Bank marks over a decade of water conservation efforts spanning 28 states, from ice stupas in the Himalayas to check dams in drought-prone districts
Mumbai, April 16, 2026: HDFC Bank Parivartan, the flagship CSR programme of HDFC Bank, announced that it has cumulatively built and restored over 15,289 water structures across India, covering more than 10,430 villages and supporting 14.92 lakh households. Over 950 villages have also received access to safe drinking water through community purification systems under its Health and Hygiene pillar.
Across these geographies, the Bank has built and restored a wide range of water assets, including farm ponds, check dams, jal minars for decentralised distribution, and rainwater harvesting systems on schools, health centres, and homes. In Central India, lift irrigation and recharge wells have expanded access for tribal farming communities through the WATER initiative. For drinking water, the Bank has installed mini purification plants using UV, RO, or multi-stage filtration based on local source analysis, supported by community water tanks, tap connections, and quality monitoring systems.
Water infrastructure alone does not transform farming. HDFC Bank Parivartan pairs every structural investment with agricultural support, including micro irrigation systems, shade net houses, Bio-Input Resource Centres, and multilayer farming practices. Together, these have increased the area under irrigation, reduced dependence on erratic rainfall, and improved crop yields for smallholder farmers. Community water user groups receive training in water budgeting and judicious use, ensuring that each asset remains productive long after it is built.
Community ownership is central to the programme’s design. Participatory Village Action Plans, developed with Women’s Self-Help Groups and Water User Associations, anchor each investment in local priorities. GIS-based planning ensures precision in site selection. Convergence with government schemes such as MGNREGA further deepens impact and reduces duplication.
Speaking on the occasion, Ms. Nusrat Pathan, Head of CSR, HDFC Bank, said, “At HDFC Bank Parivartan, we have worked to meet communities where they are, whether that means building ice stupas in the mountains or installing purification plants in villages that have never had clean tap water. Through ‘Parivartan’ our work spans watershed development, rainwater harvesting, the construction and rejuvenation of water bodies, last-mile irrigation infrastructure, and the promotion of climate-smart agricultural practices. Over 15,000 water structures and safe drinking water for nearly a thousand villages is a milestone, but the real measure is in the fields that now yield a second crop and the children who no longer fall ill from contaminated water. We remain committed to building a water-secure India.”
HDFC Bank Parivartan’s water conservation efforts span more than a decade and multiple states. In FY 2024-25, Natural Resource Management was formally introduced as a dedicated focus area under Parivartan, bringing together water conservation, afforestation, soil health, and solar energy into a cohesive programme. Through these efforts, HDFC Bank Parivartan works toward Sustainable Development Goal 6 on clean water and sanitation, and SDG 13 on climate action, placing water security at the centre of its rural development agenda.
Parivartan, HDFC Bank’s umbrella CSR programme, drives development across six focus areas: Rural Development; Promotion of Education; Skill Development and Livelihood Enhancement; Healthcare and Hygiene; Financial Literacy and Inclusion; and Natural Resource Management. As of March 2025, Parivartan has impacted over 10.56 crore lives across 28 states and 8 Union Territories. In FY 2024-25, HDFC Bank spent Rs. 1,068.03 crore in CSR activities under Parivartan.
