HDFC Bank Parivartan to Empower 1,000 Villages with Renewable Energy by 2025

On Earth Day 2025, HDFC Bank pledges solar energy access across India, transforming rural lives through sustainable innovation and awareness

Udaipur, April 22, 2025 — In a bold commitment to clean energy and rural development, HDFC Bank, under its flagship CSR initiative Parivartan, has announced that it will enable access to clean, renewable energy in over 1,000 villages across India by 2025. The announcement comes on Earth Day 2025, aligning with the global theme “Our Power, Our Planet”, which calls for urgent adoption of sustainable energy solutions.

This landmark initiative aims to bring solar-powered infrastructure, awareness campaigns, and community-driven partnerships to the forefront of rural and semi-urban empowerment.

Solar Solutions That Illuminate and Empower

Under the Natural Resource Management pillar of Parivartan, HDFC Bank has already installed over 61,655 solar streetlights in 22 Indian states. These installations serve far beyond lighting streets—they power livelihoods, improve water access, enhance farming, and strengthen food processing operations in underserved regions.

“Our solar energy initiatives are about more than infrastructure—they’re about impact,” said Kaizad Bharucha, Deputy Managing Director, HDFC Bank. “We’re bringing light to streets and homes, but also to lives through opportunity and awareness.”

Knowledge-Led Adoption Through Solar Shiksha

Recognizing that infrastructure alone isn’t sufficient for long-term change, HDFC Bank launched Solar Shiksha, a solar awareness and education initiative. The program focuses on:

• Demystifying solar technology

• Educating communities about government subsidies

• Breaking myths and addressing process barriers

• Providing multilingual, regionally-tailored materials

So far, over 90 workshops have been conducted in states including Goa, Karnataka, Haryana, Delhi, J&K, Maharashtra, Telangana, and Chhattisgarh, reaching 3,000+ individuals in 450+ communities. Schools, public hospitals, old-age homes, orphanages, and farming groups have been the primary beneficiaries.

“Solar Shiksha empowers communities to become energy independent,” said Nusrat Pathan, Head CSR, HDFC Bank. “We’re creating a culture of awareness, adoption, and ownership.”

Rural Innovation Through Renewable Energy

HDFC Bank’s solar interventions span diverse applications:

• Portable solar pumps for efficient irrigation

• Solar-powered piped water supply in remote areas

• Solar food processing units for boosting local incomes

• Solar water heaters in homestays to promote sustainable tourism

In Sobdar ki Basti, a remote village in Barmer, Rajasthan, a solar-powered system now draws water from deep Beri wells, providing reliable drinking water to 880+ villagers and significantly reducing water scarcity in the drought-prone region.

A Green Future, Powered by Communities

With its plan to electrify 1,000 villages by 2025, HDFC Bank Parivartan is building a model of inclusive, sustainable growth, proving that solar energy is not just a technology, but a tool for transformation.