HDFC Bank's Parivartan initiative has achieved a remarkable milestone in reducing stubble burning across Punjab and Haryana, impacting 88% of 3,78,425 acres of farmland during the 2025 season. This effort, part of the bank's corporate social responsibility program, was implemented in collaboration with the CII Foundation.
Program Reach and Impact
The initiative reached 86,000 farmers across more than 380 villages in the Ludhiana and Sangrur districts of Punjab and the Fatehabad district of Haryana. Since its launch in Ludhiana in October 2023, and subsequent expansion to Sangrur and Fatehabad in 2024, the program has seen eight villages eliminate stubble burning entirely, with 174 villages achieving over 90% non-burning compliance.
Addressing Systemic Challenges
According to Nusrat Pathan, Head of CSR at HDFC Bank, stubble burning is a systemic challenge rooted in economics, access, and awareness. "By making machinery accessible to farmers through cooperative tool banks, driving behavior change through sustained community engagement, and introducing ex-situ solutions like biogas and composting, we have built a model that delivers environmental outcomes alongside real savings for farmers," Pathan stated.
"On World Environment Day, we reaffirm our commitment to scaling this impact further," added Pathan.
Community Ownership and Sustainability
Chandrakant Pradhan, Lead of Climate Resilience at CII Foundation, emphasized the depth of community ownership generated by the program. Farmers who previously had no alternative to burning now champion in-situ management and actively encourage their neighbors. This shift marks a significant cultural change in farming practices within just two to three years.
Program Statistics
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Farmland Impacted | 3,78,425 acres |
| Farmers Reached | 86,000 |
| Villages Involved | 380 |
| Villages with 100% Compliance | 8 |
| Villages with 90%+ Compliance | 174 |
The success of HDFC Bank's Parivartan initiative underscores the potential for corporate social responsibility programs to drive meaningful environmental change and economic benefits for local communities.
Next Milestone: The program aims to expand its reach and impact further, with ongoing evaluations and potential new partnerships to enhance sustainability efforts.
