HDFC Bank has set a target to boost the incomes of 5 lakh marginal farmers earning less than Rs 60,000 annually by 2025, as part of its flagship corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative, Parivartan. Launched in 2014, Parivartan has become one of the largest CSR programmes in India, focusing on key areas like education, healthcare, financial inclusion, and skill development. The initiative aligns with 9 of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Over the last decade, ‘Parivartan’ has made notable contributions, impacting over 10 crore lives through its outreach, reaching 9,270 villages, and supporting 10.86 lakh households. It has installed 55,000 solar lights to promote clean energy, developed 13,000 water conservation structures, and established 57,980 kitchen gardens to boost food security. The initiative has also organised 7,025 health camps, benefiting 1.87 lakh people, and provided financial literacy to 1.71 crore individuals through 23 lakh camps. These efforts highlight the bank’s focus on fostering sustainable development, especially in rural areas.

HDFC Bank has set clear targets to be achieved by 2025. These include increasing the income of 5 lakh marginal farmers, providing skill training to 2 lakh individuals to promote self-sufficiency, and supporting 20,000 institutions to strengthen local economies. The bank also aims to promote 25,000 community enterprises, with half led by women, and to bring 2 lakh acres of unirrigated land under irrigation to boost agricultural productivity. Additionally, HDFC Bank plans to cultivate 1 lakh acres of farmland to enhance food security, offer scholarships to 25,000 underprivileged students, and improve education for 20 lakh students. The bank has already surpassed its initial tree plantation goal, having planted 38 lakh trees against the FY25 target of 25 lakh.

Kaizad M. Bharucha, Deputy Managing Director at HDFC Bank, emphasised that the nature of business performance has evolved. “Today, business performance is not just about profits but about creating social impact. Our Parivartan initiative embodies this principle, aiming to give back to the community and support sustainable development,” he said. In FY23-24 alone, ‘Parivartan’ collaborated with over 150 NGOs and implementation partners to ensure the success of its programmes. Bharucha added, “As a responsible lender, HDFC Bank is committed to contributing to nation-building. Trust and societal wellbeing are the foundations of our banking ethos.”

The bank’s initiatives focus on five key areas: rural development, education promotion, skill training, healthcare and hygiene, and financial literacy. A significant portion of these efforts, around 70 per cent, are directed towards rural India. “Our programmes prioritise rural areas, where 65 per cent of India’s population resides,” said Nusrat Pathan, Head of CSR at HDFC Bank. “We believe that true development can only be achieved when rural communities progress alongside urban areas.”

‘Parivartan’ continues to focus on capacity building and creating sustainable livelihoods. HDFC Bank’s holistic approach, particularly through the Holistic Rural Development Programme, seeks to empower marginalized communities, particularly women, by addressing their specific needs and promoting self-sufficiency. The initiative’s participatory and consultative approach helps ensure that the CSR programmes are tailored to the unique needs of the communities they serve.