HDFC Bank Launches ‘Utthan’ Project to Empower Marginalized Communities

Bhubaneswar: HDFC Bank flagship CSR programme Parivartan today announced the launch of project Utthan, an initiative to empower communities, in collaboration with Oxfam India in Kalahandi district of Odisha.

The project will contribute towards the socio-economic empowerment of marginalised communities by enhancing sustainable livelihood options and improving essential services through women-centric approach.

HDFC Bank adopted five areas under Parivartan for holistic social work, such as Rural Development, Promotion of Education, Skill Training and Livelihood Enhancement, Healthcare and Hygiene, and Financial Literacy and Inclusion.

As of June 2021, Parivartan has benefited 33.87 lakh people in Odisha. #Parivartan aims at mainstreaming economically & socially-challenged groups across the country by ushering growth, development and empowerment. HDFC Bank spent ₹634.91 crore through #Parivartan nationally and emerged as one of India’s largest CSR spender in 2020-21. This was 18.5% more than previous year.

Since 2017, through Parivartan, HDFC Bank has been actively working across 19 villages in Kalahandi’s Kesinga and Bhawanipatna Sadar blocks. Project Utthan is the second phase of the HDFC Bank CSR initiative in partnership with Oxfam India and will cover 17 villages of M.Rampur block.

“HDFC Bank is committed to support and develop disadvantaged and marginalized communities through our Holistic Rural Development Programme (HRDP),” Nusrat Pathan, Head- CSR, HDFC Bank said. “We identify and support programmes that seek to develop and advance communities in a sustainable manner. Oxfam India is the right partner to address unique challenges in Kalahandi. We are happy to partner with them for project Utthan. We are confident this will deliver fruitful results for the beneficiaries.”

Project Utthan was Digitally launched in the presence of Development Commissioner cum Additional Chief Secretary Pradeep Jena as the Chief Guest. Other guests of honour were the District Collector Dr. Gavali Parag Harshad and PD, DRDA Sri Somesh Kumar Upadhyaya.

Deepak Kumar Singh (Circle Head , Odisha) and Swaroop Sharma (CSR,Odisha) , Chetan Das (Cluster Head) represented HDFC BANK team during the launch.