Mangaluru’s Shabana Faizal among India’s Top 10 Women Philanthropists on EdelGive Hurun List
Mangaluru: Shabana Faizal, originally from Mangaluru, has been recognised among India’s top philanthropists, securing a place as the youngest woman in the top 10 of the EdelGive Hurun India Philanthropy List 2025. At 53, she has donated Rs 40 crore through the Faizal & Shabana Foundation, earning a spot among the country’s most impactful changemakers.
Her inclusion places her alongside prominent women philanthropists such as Rohini Nilekani, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, and Bina Shah, underscoring her growing influence in India’s social development landscape.
Born and raised in Mangaluru, Shabana is the only daughter of Late B. Ahmed Haji Mohiudeen, a respected businessman and socio-religious leader who founded the BA Group of Businesses in Thumbay, near Mangaluru. She completed her degree in psychology from St. Agnes College and later pursued a diploma in fashion design and merchandising from the National Institute of Fashion Design, Dubai.
Her early professional journey began in industries traditionally dominated by men, including work in steel mills and data entry, experiences that shaped her adaptability and resilience.
According to the Meitra Hospital website, where Shabana serves as a Director, her entrepreneurial career took off in 1995 when she began retailing specialty and luxury products. She later joined her husband, Faizal E. Kottikollon, in managing Emirates Techno Casting (ETC), a major engineering and manufacturing enterprise in the UAE. In her role, she managed human resources and administrative operations, contributing significantly to the company’s success.
Today, she is the Vice Chairperson of KEF Holdings, a Singapore-based family enterprise with investments across sectors like infrastructure, education, agriculture, metals, and finance. The group is known for leveraging off-site construction technologies and sustainability-driven innovations that have made a global impact.
In 2007, Shabana and her husband co-founded the Faizal & Shabana Foundation with the motto “Giving to Create Impact.” The foundation focuses on education, youth development, healthcare, community outreach, regenerative development, humanitarian aid, and the arts, aiming to create sustainable social change through long-term initiatives.
Shabana and her husband Faizal E. Kottikollon
Her philanthropic work reflects a deep commitment to giving back to society, an extension of the values she imbibed from her upbringing in Mangaluru.
The EdelGive Foundation, in collaboration with the Hurun Research Institute, released the 12th edition of the EdelGive Hurun India Philanthropy List this year. The report highlights India’s most generous individuals and families, noting that 191 philanthropists together contributed Rs 10,380 crore over the past three years — an 85% rise in donations compared to earlier years.
Education continues to receive the highest support, with Rs 4,166 crore donated by 107 contributors. The list also revealed that the top 25 philanthropists donated Rs 50,000 crore in just five years, averaging Rs 46 crore per day. Mumbai accounted for the largest share of donations at 28%, followed by New Delhi and Bengaluru.
A mother of four— Sophiya, Sarah, Zacharia, and Czarina — Shabana continues to balance family life with business leadership and social service. Her journey from a small-town upbringing to global entrepreneurship and impactful philanthropy showcases how determination, empathy, and a sense of purpose can redefine success.
Shabana Faizal’s recognition on the EdelGive Hurun India Philanthropy List 2025 stands as a proud moment for Mangaluru and Karnataka, celebrating a woman whose vision continues to inspire both corporate and social transformation.
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Trekking without nature guide won't be allowed; Karnataka forest minister releases SOP
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre on Friday said that trekking will no longer be permitted on any approved trekking routes under the forest department, without a certified nature guide equipped with GPS-enabled walkie-talkies.
Speaking after releasing the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) formulated for the safety of trekkers, he said that there will be one local nature guide for every 10 trekkers. A maximum of 150 trekkers will be allowed per batch on any trekking route.
According to him, online registration for trekking is mandatory. Even if a single individual registers for a particular day, a guide will still be provided, and trekking without a guide will not be allowed.
He said the SOP was introduced following recent incidents, including a woman from Kerala who went missing for three days in the forests during a trek at Tadiandamol hill in Kodagu, and a minor girl who went missing and was later found dead near Manikyadhara in Chikkamagaluru, which is outside forest jurisdiction.
In a statement, the Khandre's office said that nature guides will be mandatorily equipped with GPS-enabled walkie-talkies on all trekking routes. "Additionally, a mobile app containing trekking route maps will be installed on trekkers' phones. This will help locate trekkers if they lose their way", it said.
As per the SOP, before the trek begins, trekkers will be briefed about the distance, duration, and local conditions.
"Instructions on how to respond if wildlife is encountered will also be provided. Loud devices, sharp metal objects, weapons, and campfires are strictly prohibited on trekking routes," it said.
The SOP further stated that separate toilets for men and women and drinking water facilities will be provided at base camps.
Directional arrow markings will guide trekkers along the route, and rest points will be created along the way, it said.
Citing the SOP, the statement said that nature guides must ensure that no trekker moves ahead of them or is left behind. Headcounts must be conducted at base camps and rest points.
"Guides must communicate with the base camp via walkie-talkie every 30 minutes. If there is no communication within an hour of the trek starting, base camp staff will contact the guide to confirm safety," it said.
The SOP states that minors must carry a consent letter from their parents or guardians, and senior citizens must provide a fitness certificate confirming their physical capability to undertake trekking. To be able to respond to unexpected health issues, trekkers and guides must carry a first aid kit.
However, flash photography, single-use plastics, and carry bags are prohibited and trekkers must bring back their waste and dispose of it only at base camps, as per SOP.
It further said that all trekking routes under the forest department will be integrated into the official website (https://aranyavihaara.karnataka.gov.in/) to enable advance booking of tickets.
