HDFC Bank, under its CSR programme Parivartan, has built and restored more than 15,289 water structures across India, covering over 10,430 villages and reaching around 14.92 lakh households, according to company data. More than 950 villages have also been provided access to safe drinking water through community purification systems.

These include farm ponds, check dams, decentralised distribution networks like jal minars, and systems for harvesting rainwater that have been constructed in educational institutions, hospitals, and individual residences. In the central Indian region, measures like lift irrigation schemes and recharge wells have been adopted to assist agricultural communities, especially in tribal regions.

As for the provision of drinking water, small units for purification through UV, RO, or other types of filtrations have been provided, according to local water conditions. Such devices are complemented by water tanks, taps, and monitoring equipment.

The project is also complemented by the provision of agrarian assistance in addition to the construction of water-related infrastructure. The efforts include use of micro-irrigation systems, installation of shade net houses, use of bio-input resource centres, and multi-tier cropping methods.

Community involvement is an integral part of the project, which entails planning at the village level, which includes the use of local organizations like women’s self-help groups and water user associations. GIS technology facilitates planning, and in some cases, the project activities are coordinated with government projects like MGNREGA.

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.”

The programme has been implemented for over a decade in various states. For fiscal year 2024–25, the focus area of natural resource management is being introduced, which encompasses water conservation, afforestation, soil management, and solar power initiatives.

Parivartan is an initiative that works towards meeting global goals for sustainability, such as access to clean water and sanitation as well as efforts to take action against climate change. As of March 2025, Parivartan has been able to serve in excess of 10.56 crore people in 28 states and 8 union territories.