About Us

Our Vision

Earn trust and credibility, work towards a just and egalitarian society by giving opportunities to socially and economically weak children and adults through collaborations with academic institutions and like-minded individuals and organisations for maximum impact and cover a larger gamut of beneficiaries in education, health and skill development.

Our Mission

To help the underserved in their education, skill development, health and other critical needs and ensure positive outcomes for beneficiaries to make a meaningful difference in their lives. Work on the overall personality development of needy children and youth to enable them to join the economic mainstream of the country with confidence.

In Loving Memory of Two Outstanding Nation Builders

R N Malhotra (1924 to 1997)

R N Malhotra (Ram to his family and friends) served as Joint Secretary, Additional Secretary and Secretary, Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance to the Government of India and Executive Director to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for India, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Sri Lanka.

When Dr Manmohan Singh moved to the position of RBI Governor, Mr Malhotra stepped into his shoes as Secretary of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance. Mr Malhotra was posted in Washington as Executive Director of the IMF for India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka when the government asked him to return to India and take over the RBI Governor’s role in 1985. He continued in the sensitive and high profile position till December 1990.

As the Finance Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh persuaded Ram Malhotra after his retirement to accept the chairmanship of the Insurance Committee for reforms in the insurance sector. The report submitted in 1994 under the leadership of R N Malhotra proved a milestone in reforming the insurance sector of India. The reforms were implemented under the Vajpayee government in 1999. An Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority was set up and the sector opened to private domestic and global players.

Later Dr Manmohan Singh persuaded Ram Malhotra to take over from him the Presidency of the India Habitat Centre in Delhi. R. N. Malhotra served after retirement as the Chair, Board of Governors of ICRIER during 1992- 1997, a reputed think tank, and as a Trustee of the India International Centre (IIC).

In 1990, R. N. Malhotra was honoured by the President of India with the prestigious award of Padma Bhushan for outstanding service to the nation. While he achieved tremendously in official life, Ram also excelled as a remarkable human being.

Ram Malhotra decided to assume the responsibility of supporting and settling his family after the Partition.

Late Mohinder Singh

Former Secretary of the Shipping Ministry and a classmate of R N Malhotra

"Ram was the only flawless man I have ever met in my life. He was an extremely sensitive human being who felt the pain of others and tried to help them."

Montek Singh Ahluwalia

Former Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, Finance Secretary and Commerce Secretary writes in his book, Backstage, the story behind India’s high growth years, 2020

"Ram Malhotra-was a civil servant of the old school: scrupulously apolitical with the conviction that incorruptibility and decency were the most important requirements for anyone in high office. He had a way of encouraging junior officers to speak frankly, while leaving them in no doubt that his was the final call. It was a trait I consciously tried to emulate in my career in government."

Dr Y V Reddy

Former RBI Governor who served in the Finance Ministry, World Bank. He shared an interesting story about R N Malhotra in his
book, Advice and Dissent: My Life in Public Service, Harper Business, 2017

In a meeting in Washington with the World Bank VP, David Hopper, the latter imposed some very tough conditions to give a $200 million loan to India. Malhotra asked Hopper to keep his money because the conditions were not in India’s interest. Eventually, Hopper had to persuade Mr. Malhotra and a compromise was struck.

Anna Rajam Malhotra (1927-2018)

Breaking gender stereotypes and all-male bastions, overcoming prejudices against women, facing male UPSC officers determined to dissuade her from joining the IAS, Anna Rajam George (later Malhotra) was destined to break the glass ceiling and become the first woman IAS officer in India, 1951 batch. When the UPSC members visited Madras where Anna was a sub-divisional officer, the UPSC Chairman R N Banerjee told her, “You know Anna, there is a heavy responsibility on you. If your performance is not good, we will stop recruiting women in India.” Though Anna was a junior officer, she replied, “Sir, if there was a male officer in my place and his performance was bad, would the UPSC stop recruiting males too in the IAS?” The UPSC Chairman and members were astonished at her reply. This threw open the Civil Services to the women in India, never to be questioned again.

She overcame similar prejudices of some of the Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu, including C Rajagopalachari, Chief Minister of Madras State, who was reluctant to let women face the rigours of field postings. Anna had replied, “Women did not have to wield a sword to face a riotous mob; all that was required was moral courage and presence of mind.’’ which she had in plenty. She got all the challenging field assignments and came out with flying colours.

For the dynamic, path-breaking officer she was, the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, Mussoorie, which trains IAS and IFS officers, dedicated a hall in the academy in her honour on International Women’s Day on 8 March 2021. When she was Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Robert McNamara, President of the World Bank and former Secretary of Defence, United States, said, “No one in India knows more about agriculture than Anna George (her maiden name)”. She went on to become an Additional Secretary in the Home Ministry. When her Minister Jagjivan Ram wanted to use the plane of the Ministry for electioneering, she refused permission. Jagjivan Ram gracefully accepted her decision.

In the Home Ministry, she was directed to execute the decision of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to transfer one lady officer in the Ministry. Anna refused it on the file giving her reasons and handed over a letter to the Home Secretary to be given to the Prime Minister, reasoning why she did not want to remove the lady officer. Consequently, Anna herself was transferred, but she proceeded on leave. Indira Gandhi asked the Home Secretary to find out from Anna, where she would like her next posting.

She was then promoted and became the Education Secretary to the Government of India, where she rendered a stellar performance. The department wanted to stop the Midday Meal Scheme. But she refused the permission and fortunately, this scheme continues today in government schools in most states. She would visit villages and played a crucial role to ensure women sarpanches ran the show, instead of doing the bidding of the male members of the family.

When her husband, R N Malhotra, moved to Bombay as the Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, Anna became the Chairperson of the proposed Nhava Sheva Port Trust located in Navi Mumbai Raigad District. It was a very tough assignment, but Anna fought all odds to complete it before time in May 1989. Today known as the Jawahar Lal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT), it is India’s first and largest fully computerised container port.

During her lifetime, along with her husband, she quietly did her bit for charity to various causes. She donated money for building a whole wing for sheltering orphaned children in the Missionaries of Charity, East Delhi, founded by Mother Teresa. A born Christian, she maintained that her religion was to be a good human being like her husband.

She was awarded the country’s third-highest award Padma Bhushan by the President of India for her exemplary service in 1989.

Our Past Partnerships

Legal

The R N Malhotra & Anna R Malhotra Charitable Trust has obtained the Registration certificate under Section 12A and 80G of The Income Tax Act 1961. All donations received by the Trust will be eligible for deductions under section 80G of The Income Tax Act 1961.

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