Social - Community

Building resilient
communities together

Social & Relationship Capital

We believe businesses can only thrive if the communities in which they operate thrive as well. Our CSR programmes are designed to have a long-term, meaningful impact on the upliftment of marginalised communities, while contributing to global sustainable development goals. The pandemic-induced economic hardships that our communities have witnessed over the past two years have reaffirmed our resolve to address deep-seated social inequalities. We have aligned our efforts towards a ‘people-centric’ recovery through multi-dimensional interventions across livelihood, skill development, education, health, and natural resources.

We seek to bring about a revolution in the quality of life and livelihood of our communities through our CSR Brand, Parivartan, which means Change. Our programmes are created and shortlisted through a participatory, bottomup, and consultative process, including all stakeholders. We work with a variety of NGOs and partners, as well as employee volunteers, to assist us in the implementation of various sustainable development programmes.

WE ARE ONE OF THE HIGHEST CSR SPENDERS IN INDIA, WITH A TOTAL CSR EXPENDITURE OF

`736.01 Cr

CSR initiatives and UN Sustainable Development Goals

Natural Resource Management

Under Parivartan, the bank has been working in 23 states in India to bring holistic development in the rural landscape.




Construction of solar streetlights, biomass stoves, community biogas plants, and the distribution of solar home lighting
Building Rainwater Harvesting Structures, Community Tanks, Hand Pump, and Wells
Seed Bank, Grain Bank, and Village Nursery are being established
Establishment of ~48,490+ kitchen gardens

Promotion of Education

This is one of Parivartan’s most significant pillars, which encourages equal education for all students, from early childhood through secondary school.

Scholarship opportunities like the ECS Scholarship
Introduction of Smart Classes across different states to integrate technology with education
Sports as one of the pillars of education to promote the health and well-being of childern

Healthcare and Hygiene

The bank focuses on eliminating Non-Communicable Disease in some states and establish accessible sanitary facilities despite difficult terrains.

Planting of 17.69 Lakh+ trees has helped increase groundwater levels
Development of ~23,800 household toilet units across India
Guinness World Record for organising the world's largest blood donation drive

Skill Development and livelihood Enhancement

Managing and improving skills is an important part of increasing employment and establishing longterm livelihood options.

Assist farmers in changing their logistics and supply chains
Aided in the formation of dairy cooperatives, poultry farms, integrated poultry-goat rearingfishery units
Parivartan has trained ~8,470 SHGs in rural India with the goal of empowering women
The bank has trained nearly 2.54 Lakh+ people through its partners, in accordance with the ideals of fairness and inclusion

Financial Literacy and Inclusion

Our Bank offers financial literacy programmes to help communities make informed financial decisions.

The bank conducts financial literacy workshops
Digidhan or Dhanchayat is the Bank’s financial literacy programme on wheels

The CSR and ESG committee of the Board reviews our CSR projects, monitors CSR policy and performance, and ensures that the Bank is compliant with the regulatory requirements. There were no fines or non-monetary sanctions in the social area during FY22 owing to non-compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

*Refers to achievement since inception till March 31, 2022

Parivartan – a step towards sustainable progress

Parivartan is the Bank's umbrella brand for all social efforts. It aims to drive positive change in people's lives by empowering them, to become self-sufficient and integrated with the society through direct or indirect interventions. Parivartan is also at the forefront of natural disaster response, successfully restoring infrastructure and rehabilitating communities. Parivartan works under five thematic areas. Based on the identified focus areas, we have set seven goals and 11 sub-goals that guide our community development activities.

LIVES IMPACTED*

9.6 Cr+

1 Rural Development (Natural Resource Management)

Our Holistic Rural Development Programme (HRDP) focuses on comprehensive development through activities under NRM, Education, Skill Development and Livelihood, Financial Literacy and Healthcare. These activities are based on the belief that rural development is key to India’s growth. The Natural Resource Management theme rests on the twin goals of enhancement of natural resources and their optimal utilisation for the economic development of the community. Under this theme, we have defined three goals. First, we are working to irrigate 2 Lakh acres of unirrigated land and cover 1 Lakh acres with vegetation, to increase the area of land under cultivation, as well as to increase the cropping intensity of cultivable land.

HOUSEHOLDS

9.88 Lakh+

VILLAGES

3,335+

*Refers to achievement since inception till March 31, 2022

Natural Resource Management

WATER CONSERVATION STRUCTURES DEVELOPED*

10,500+

SOLAR LIGHTS INSTALLED*

41,810+

BIOMASS STOVES DEPLOYED*

11,670+

KITCHEN GARDENS DEVELOPED*

48,490+

TREES PLANTED*

17.69 Lakh+

Second, we aim to reduce the carbon and ecological footprint of our communities by promoting clean and renewable energy solutions. This includes undertaking projects such as tree plantation for carbon sequestration and biodiversity conservation. We are targeting 1,000 villages to have clean and renewable energy solutions and a minimum of 10 solar lights in each village. In addition, we are providing solar home lights, biomass chulha, biogas plant, solar study lamp, and a solar irrigation unit, covering 25% of the households in each village. The biomass stoves have helped improve indoor air quality, creating a direct positive impact on women’s health. Further, we target to plant 2.5 Million trees by FY25.

Third, we have been promoting the use of chemical-free farming, to maintain the soil, environment, and human health by combining tradition, creativity and science. We train farmers on different agricultural techniques for improving productivity and using locally produced manure and fertilisers, which not only aid in chemical-free farming but also help avoid expenditures on chemical fertilisers.

*Refers to achievement since inception till March 31, 2022

2 Promotion of Education

We are implementing a programme to promote education in line with India’s Sarva Shiksha Abhiyaan. Under this theme, we provide multi-faceted support to schools, to enhance the quality of education – which includes training the teachers, providing scholarships and career guidance to students, as well as infrastructure support to schools, such as building toilets and improving classrooms. We have dedicated programmes for improving teachers' skills and scaling up no-cost solutions for improving existing systems and processes. We have also been working towards establishing libraries, scientific labs and digital classrooms.

Under this theme, we have set the goal of enhancing the quality of education in government schools through a threedimensional, target-driven approach. The first dimension aims to convert 2,500 traditional schools into smart schools, to establish a favourable learning environment and enable teachers to utilise various efficient teaching-learning methods. We have identified six building blocks for the development of smart schools and would be providing targeted support, based on a detailed need assessment and situational analysis of the availability of adequate infrastructure such as space and electricity.

The second dimension aims to support meritorious yet underprivileged students with scholarships, to not let the financial crises interrupt the development of bright young minds.

We identify economically backward students with an annual family income below `2.5 Lakh and a minimum of 55% marks on their latest available marksheet.

The third dimension targets quality of education in schools. We aim to achieve 70% of students in all schools (those under intervention) at class appropriate learning (CAL) levels. The CAL levels are assessed as per the NCERT defined framework in classes 3, 5, and 8 through the National Achievement Survey in language, mathematics, EVS, science, and social science.

Digital classrooms

The Smart Classrooms by Parivartan in the state-run schools are equipped with a pre-loaded projector and an interactive board. The in-built e-content is aligned with the concerned state curriculum, making learning fun and engaging for the students. For effective implementation of the digital classrooms initiative, the Bank provides training to the teachers making them the experts and custodians of the infrastructure.

Basic Science and Math laboratory

For collaborative practical approach

Library

Additional learning hubs fundamental to overall personal development

Smart class infrastructure

enable modern technology in education to provide an interactive learning environment.

Construction and maintenance of toilet facility

Prevents dropouts and absenteeism

Drinking water facility

Provisioning uncontaminated and safe drinking water for students

Active Corner (for primary schools only)

For stimulation of cognitive learning capacities and improve attendance and enrolment

2.8 Lakh+

SCHOOLS BENEFITTED*

19.94 Lakh+

TEACHERS TRAINED*

2.09 Cr+

STUDENTS REACHED*

710+

LIBRARIES SET UP*

3 Skills Training and Livelihood Enhancement

*Refers to achievement since inception till March 31, 2022

Under the Skills Training and Livelihood Enhancement theme, we focus on the economic development of farmers and youth in rural areas by providing means of generating income through agricultural or non-agricultural activities. Since its beginning, this initiative has assisted around 2.54 Lakh+ people. The overarching objective is to empower the disadvantaged by providing them with greater possibilities, assisting them in finding local jobs, increasing their household income and discouraging migration. We also support women Self Help Groups (SHGs) or Joint Liability Groups (JLGs) by providing occupational skills training, financial literacy, credit counselling, livelihood finance, and market linkage. We have started SLI EMI collections through Common Service Centre operators (CSC VLE) providing convenience to customers at the village level.

We have set separate goals for individual and institutional capacity development under this theme.

The first goal focuses on increasing farmers' income across the country. We have defined three distinct subgoals to move forward in a targeted and systematic way. Through the first sub-goal, we aim to reach 5 Lakh small and marginal farmers (with annual income below `60,000) and support them in maximising output and reducing input costs. We are also enabling farmers to adopt modern and innovative farming tools and techniques, by providing them exposure visits to different fields and agricultural institutes, and supporting them with seeds, fertilisers, and other farm support materials. Additionally, we help farmers diversify their income by supporting them in allied activities such as livestock rearing, timber, horticulture, and fishery, among others.

The second sub-goal relates to the promotion of 1 Lakh community led enterprises to boost local economic activities, of which ~50% would be women-led. Under this, we encourage the economically deprived communities to engage in entrepreneurship on an individual or a cluster basis. We support identification of prospective economic activities in the intervention villages and assist the community members in founding and operating an enterprise – which include beauty parlours, small shops, goateries, poultry, tailoring, etc. for individual beneficiaries, and processing units, packaging units, fisheries, and handicrafts, etc. for group enterprises, established through FPO, SHG, and JLG.

The third sub-goal relates to skill development for employment generation where we provide classroom/online/blended skill development training in trades that could lead to job placement or self-employment opportunity for unemployed youth, school dropouts and landless farmers. Our training programmes typically have certifications from the NSDC, the Sector Skill Council, or other qualified non-government agencies.

The second goal relates to the development and sustenance of institutions for livelihood enhancement – particularly community institutions such as village development committees, farmers’ groups, self-help groups, water user groups, sanitation committees, youth groups, and adolescent groups. We aim to develop and support 1 Lakh community institutions. The Bank’s intervention could range from a few months to three years. The activities are related to agriculture, water, sanitation, health, livelihood, and other rural development work.

8.08 Lakh+

WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS TRAINED*

8,470 +

SHGs REVIVED/FORMED/TRAINED*

*Refers to achievement since inception till March 31, 2022

Stories of Parivartan

Increasing production with high-tech farming

Tehsil: Lalsot, Dausa District, Rajasthan

Beneficiary: Prem Devi

Prem Devi is a small-scale farmer who was dealing with a variety of challenges, including poor tomato quality owing to inappropriate sapling planting, output losses due to numerous illnesses, and severe lack of water.

We assisted her with a hightech farming system and capacitated her to maximise profit, while lowering the cost of production. Drip systems, mulching sheet covering, stands, and water tanks were provided as part of the initiative to her boost her agricultural operations.

Since implementation of the intervention, the water usage has been reduced due to installation of drip systems.

Prem Devi sold roughly 150 quintals of tomatoes, making a profit of `98,000. This has not only improved her quality of life, but has also motivated other farmers in the region.

Strengthening agri-horticulture

District: Mandi, Himachal Pradesh

Beneficiary: 2,000 Farmers

Farmers in the Mandi district have become victims to exploitation by middlemen. In addition, their lack of negotiating power over prices has aggravated the situation.

We supported market linkages through:

  • Formation of 45 Farmer Interest Groups (FIG)
  • Conducted 25 orientation trainings on value chain and value addition in apple production
  • Encouraged farmers to sell their harvest in bulk

Constructed a model apple processing machine to promote apple bi-products

Farmers now have better market access, with 27.63 tonnes of apples sold straight from the producer. FIG farmers have begun selling their products in bulk and delivering it straight to customers. As a result, their negotiating strength and revenues have improved.

Fighting the pandemic

India

We reached out to Covid-care hospitals in several states to learn about their needs and concerns, with the aim to fix infrastructural gaps using the lessons learned during he second and third wave.

Through the Covid Crisis Support Scholarship Programme, we are assisting 4,000+ students who are experiencing personal or financial hardships, as a result of Covid. With monetary aid up to `75,000, the Bank created a specific initiative to help students from class 1 and above, up to those pursuing UG and PG programmes.

We are increasing the oxygen capacity in 18 hospitals around the country to better prepare for the approaching COVID-19 waves. These oxygen plants are now being set up in Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Haryana, Punjab, Karnataka, Kerala, Assam, West Bengal, New Delhi, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Himanchal Pradesh.

Upskilling women and rural youth

India

Training and placing 5,000 women across 6 states

Aiding disconnected rural youth across 10 states

In collaboration with the Apparel Made-Ups and Home Furnishings Sector Skill Council, we have trained over 5000 women across six states in apparel-related job areas. This included awareness/counseling sessions, quality training sessions, provision of learning materials, toolkit etc.

We have also set up a team to followup and support the applicants to get employed at top companies.

We aim to place women candidates in top national and international companies. We are setting up a team to follow and support the applicants, once they’ve been placed through off-site or onsite verification.

With our ‘Head Held High’ (HHH) initiative, we have developed the ‘Make India Capable’ programme which aim to improve the skills and capabilities of 1500 rural youths in ten districts across ten states (Karnataka, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Bihar, Uttarakhand, Telangana, Gujarat, Haryana, and Odisha).

The programme guarantees that ~70% of the trained youngsters would be placed in a job within 39 months. The project commenced in FY21-22 and has trained over 280 applicants until March 2022.

4 Healthcare and Hygiene

23,800+

HOUSEHOLD TOILETS CONSTRUCTED*

1,810+

SANITATION DRIVES CONDUCTED*

We have adopted an integrated approach related to healthcare and hygiene. We have not only been provisioning healthcare services to our communities in the form of health clinics, nutrition programmes and immunisation drives, but have also been working on hygiene and sanitation in schools and communities. To complement our community-led sanitation efforts directed toward the proper disposal of wastewater, we have been working on the institutionalisation of waste pickers through social and financial inclusion for dry waste management.

Under this thematic area, we have set the goal to improve sanitation facilities – which we are implementing through targeted efforts on three distinct subgoals. The three sub-goals are related to waste management, clean drinking water and household sanitation facilities.

Under the first sub-goal, we are developing waste management systems in 1,000 settlements. We are committed to establishing a long-term solid waste management system by providing the necessary infrastructure and instilling the necessary behavioural changes toward responsible consumption, source segregation and litter prevention. This includes settingup materials recovery facilities (MRF) and recycling facilities in 15 ULBs, in addition to village-level interventions such as residential composting, door-to-door garbage collection and the related mechanisms for user fee collection, compost sales and recycling.

We are targeting 1,000 communities for providing access to clean drinking water. This would include interventions to promote clean drinking water availability at both the communitylevel (through Jal-minar or other water buildings) as well as at the family-level (piped water connection). Through these interventions, three litres of water per person per day will be made available. We are also forming and orienting water user groups to ensure sustenance of the services who would be entrusted with post-project maintenance and water quality testing.

The third sub-goal pertains to ensuring that 100% of households have acceptable sanitation facilities. While the Government of India is believed to have provided sanitation facilities to every household, we are supplementing the government’s efforts by working towards enhancing the usage of such facilities by undertaking soft initiatives like awareness and motivation, infrastructure-based interventions, to support the repair and upgradation of such facilities, if and where required.

*Refers to achievement since inception till March 31, 2022

Employee engagement 2021-22

The Parivartan initiative also strives to engage our employees through its Employee Volunteering Programme, encouraging them to contribute their time and effort. Our employees have displayed strong commitment by participating in various social programmes.

Financial Literacy Sessions for school students

  • HDFC Bank has created a fun-filled and student-friendly financial literacy workshop. These workshops are conducted by the bank employees.
  • The Bank collaborated with Teach for India to conduct these sessions. 100+ students were engaged through the virtual workshops.

Konkan Flood Relief

  • The Bank collaborated with Donatekart and Aahardaan Foundation to raise funds and facilitate delivery of essential materials to the Konkan flood affected areas.
  • Among the affected areas, the Bank catered to communities in Chiplun district reaching out to 500 families.

Be a Secret Santa

  • The Bank organised its annual ‘Be a Secret Santa’ campaign marking Christmasdonation drive.
  • The campaign allowed the bank to donate towards several causes including support for children living on streets, welfare of stray animals, senior citizens and more.

SmartUp

  • Under its SmartUp programme, HDFC Bank supports startups to help them drive social change with motivation.
  • The Bank officials cumulatively spent 100+ hours in shortlisting the start-ups. The Bank also launched a new sub-segment called SmartUp Unnati, a dedicated programme for mentoring women entrepreneurs by women leaders at the Bank. Under the above programme, four senior leaders dedicated 15+ hours in mentoring 8 women entrepreneurs.

Employee payroll giving programme

  • 1,400+ employees have subscribed to the Give India Payroll Giving Programme to donate towards several different causes.
  • HDFC Bank matches the employee’s contribution, and the sum amount is annually donated to a charity of the employees’ choice.

Gifting independence to the elderly on Independence Day

  • On Independence Day, the Bank organised an email-fundraiser campaign through its NGO partnerDonatekart. The bank employees through the campaign could donate towards procurement of essential materials for the elderly staying at Old age homes.

Plant on the go

  • With a motto to make our surroundings greener, the bank distributed seedbombs among its staff in Mumbai.
  • The seedbombs (mud balls consisting of seeds) were specially made by tribal women. 800+ seedbombs were distributed among the staff.
5 Financial Literacy and Inclusion

The first step towards true financial inclusion is financial literacy. Financial literacy camps are periodically conducted at our branches. In addition, we have set up financial literacy centres across India. We are also working with our non-profit partners to enhance financial literacy. The camps are designed to provide communities with information about the fundamentals of saving, investing and organised finance, enabling them to make informed decisions. Digidhan, our flagship plan under this pillar, is a mobile financial literacy programme that travels the length and breadth of the country's hinterland, presenting the advantages of digital banking in an audio-visual format.

23 Lakh+

FINANCIAL LITERACY CAMPS ORGANISED*

1.71 Cr+

INDIVIDUALS BENEFITTED*

*Refers to achievement since inception till March 31, 2022