INVESTING IN ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE AND EMPOWERMENT

Transforming lives with better farm yields in Dharashiv, Maharashtra

Dharashiv, Maharashtra, is one of the 112 most underdeveloped districts identified by NITI Aayog. Kaneri village, perched at an elevation, faces significant challenges in getting water to the farms. Farmers like Rasal and Roti struggled with arid land, with only a small portion suitable for cultivation.

Now, through the programme, they have learnt vital techniques such as drip irrigation. Rasal shares how adopting these methods has transformed not just his land, but his life. His farm, once dry and unproductive, now consistently yields harvests with crops thriving season after season. These changes have not only improved the landscape but also enhanced the livelihoods of the farmers, providing them with sustainable growth and a brighter future.

“I have 1.5 acres where I cultivated jowar, soyabean, and green chickpeas. The bulk of the project costs are taken care of by IndusInd Bank and around 10 % of the total project cost is borne by the farmers and support from local and district official for scheme conversion.”

Rasal’s farm now grows diverse crops such as sesame, peanuts, flax seeds, and onions — thanks to his approach to organic farming. Techniques like in-situ soil moisture conservation and manure production have revitalised the oncebarren land. Rasal’s success story is echoed by other farmers in nearby villages. Previously, water tankers, each carrying 12,000 litres, were paid for by the villagers to meet personal, farming, and livestock needs.

The partnership with IndusInd Bank, the NGO partner, and the local community helped clear a seven-km choked nallah in Mangrul village. This nallah is now a large tank of clean water, the sides are fenced, and the water is used for farming. It also prevents wells and water bodies from drying up, by recharging ground water.

Solar pumps in Bahraich address irrigation woes at low cost

Now, every home in Mangrul has a tap, and 90% of the villagers have installed irrigation systems. In addition to organic farming, goat rearing and poultry have made rural farmers more economically secure, especially women involved in these ventures. It has also helped to stem rural migration to a large extent.

Better agriculture and micro-irrigation and more is the aim of Jalpriya Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO), supported by IndusInd Bank which is blooming in Bhoom taluka of Dharashiv. Led by a 10-member board of directors, this collective effort saw 983 farmers from 27 villages come together, contributing a total share capital of Rs 14.80 lakh.

Specialising in pulses and dairy farming, the FPO has transformed 27 villages in the block into thriving hubs of agricultural activity. The Jalpriya FPO has also addressed the pressing issue of water scarcity by offering sprinkler sets at subsidised rates and so the FPO has empowered 476 farmers, providing a sustainable solution to a longstanding challenge. The numbers speak for themselves. With a turnover of Rs 4.33 crore in three years and a net profit of Rs 17.35 lakh, this FPO has redefined success in the agricultural landscape.

Under its flagship Holistic Rural Development Programme, the bank focuses on five key areas: Soil and Water conservation, Social development, Agricultural development, Women Empowerment, and Water budgeting. Soil and Water conservation activities — such as building check dams, loose boulder structures, and area treatments — ensure that water remains available for drinking, farming, and livestock throughout the year, even during the summer when water bodies typically dry up.

This programme uses a consortium model to create synergy and convergence among like-minded stakeholders from both private and public sectors. Each district has an anchor partner along with grass-root local sectorial partners to facilitate smooth programme implementation and community coordination.

Women-led self-help groups (SHGs) have embraced and supported programmes that economically empower them. In some villages, women have been trained in dairy farming. These women have become entrepreneurs, producing and supplying paneer, khoya, basundi, and cheese. Under the Maharashtra State Livelihood Mission, the NGO provides training on how to use excess milk production. Ashwini Shinde, Udyog Sakhi, works singlehandedly to produce milk products that are now supplied to well-known brands in cities and towns. “During Diwali, we sold all our products in record time, and there was a demand for more,” she shares.

Sowing seeds of change: Committed to diversifying crops, improving soil health

Innovation-driven Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) interventions in collaboration with ASCI, have played a pivotal role in accelerating change across the five priority districts. The WASH Innovation Hub at ASCI’s focused initiative to accelerate WASH outcomes in partnership with the IndusInd Bank’s Flagship CSR programme, is driving transformative change in the WASH landscape through innovative solutions, capacity building, and pilot initiatives. Innovators from the WASH Innovation Hub have introduced game-changing solutions that are reshaping the water and sanitation landscape in these districts.

A key highlight of the programme is the deployment of WASH Fellows, embedded with district administrations to identify critical gaps and implement localized solutions aligned with SDG 6.0. Notable successes include the integration of IoT-based monitoring systems and the implementation of decentralised treatment solutions, significantly improving water and sanitation outcomes in targeted districts. In places like Paranda Taluka in Dharashiv District, WASH interventions have impacted over 400 lives by restoring and enhancing access to clean drinking water. By addressing handpump sustainability, IndusInd Bank and its innovation partner AUMSTAT are contributing to the Government of India’s broader vision of improving the quality of life in aspirational districts.

IndusInd Bank’s Holistic Rural Development Programme is centered in Bahraich, one of the poorest and neglected districts of Uttar Pradesh. The Bank is forging sustainable livelihoods, enhancing climate resilience, and addressing some of the core socio-economic issues.

One of the major impacts of the programme’s interventions is on the water resources in Bahraich. The water quality index (WQI) in Bahraich tells a sorry story — groundwater samples harvested are unfit for drinking. It attempts to deal with these issues through better water management practices and enabling targeted rural households to have access to clean, safe drinking water.

And the efforts are bearing fruit, you see it in the smiles of farmers like Batlu Yadav, who says, “IndusInd Bank helped us by providing solar pumps, hence saving us the expense of diesel. I can do far more farming at any time of the year without the anxiety of diesel and costs that lower our rate of production.”

Another key strategy of the programme is diversification into high-value crops and working with farmers to improve soil health and organic carbon content. Furthermore, the programme supports improved livestock productivity. By focusing on proper animal health-management practices, vaccinations, and artificial insemination techniques, farmers are able to increase livestock yield and obtain income diversity and stability.

The multi-stakeholder approach is among the biggest strengths of the Holistic Rural Development Programme. It adopts a consortium model where IndusInd Bank supports governmental and NGO officials as well as those involved in certain sectors. Local stakeholders are engaged through the use of village development committees (VDCs), creating a systematic and thoughtful context to apprise community needs during the decision-making processes.

The Bank also collaborates with the district magistrate to ensure an organised approach to implementation. Moreover, this partnership ensures that the initiatives are aligned with the developmental goals of the district and government schemes like MGNREGA and Poshan Abhiyan. UN agencies such as UNICEF and academic institutions such as IIT Madras have also associated themselves with the programme. This collaboration incorporates scientific research and best practices, ensuring both effectiveness and scalability in the interventions.

Saroj Kumari of Raipur Kabula village in Risia block was a daily wage labourer until she got to know about Pashu Sakhi. Hailing from a village of 320 households from the OBC community, most people depend on daily wages or agriculture for bare subsistence. The village’s goat population of about 900 has high mortality rates exacerbated by the lack of adequate services for small ruminants.

After a five-day training on goat health management, she persevered despite initial fears of societal judgement and helped people with services for goats such as deworming, vaccination, castration, cattle feed provision, and so on. The result: In just three months, Saroj not only gained confidence but also emerged as the top performer in vaccination, covering 700 goats and earning Rs. 17,136 by providing services to community on charge basis. She not only got to help pay the fees for her daughter’s education, but also bought herself a smartphone. She now plans to invest in her house construction and purchase earrings for herself.

Under the Flagship Aspirational District Programme, 60 Pashu Sakhis like Saroj Devi have been trained, each earning an average of Rs. 4,700 per month from the community by providing goat care related services.

From financial support to help their families on the path to self dependence or assistance with know how to set solar panels or simply assisting in infrastructure support, IndusInd Bank has been like a steady friend for the farmers of Begusarai in Bihar.

Thirty-year-old Nitu Kumari from Pirnagar village at Pahsara Purvi panchayat of Naokothi village has a success story to inspire others. “I make shade nets to protect crops from birds, insects and other pests, reducing the need for the chemical pesticide. IndusInd Bank’s support has changed the life of our family. Under the initiative, we got training on how to utilise money in the right manner and right purpose for lasting change.I couldn’t be happier,” she smiles.

Improving water quality index (WQI) for safe drinking water in Bahraich

All thanks to the installation of solar systems,not only are the crops healthier, but the cost involved in irrigation has also reduced.

Nitu is not the only one whose life is changing, thanks to IndusInd Bank’s vision. There are 800-plus women other women witnessing positive change in their life with meaningful support from the initiative.

And it is not just farmers who are reaping benefits of solar power.

The Anganwadi Centre No 73 in Karaitand village, Samsa, Bihar, had a broken roof and damaged floor. Not only did this make the environment unsafe but also and unwelcoming for children. Lack of basic facilities and a poor learning atmosphere led to low attendance of children.

All of this changed, shares, Afsana Rozi, executive, with the anchor partner, from Manjhoul, after comprehensive renovation was undertaken to upgrade the centre.

A solar panel (165W) with battery and inverter has ensured uninterrupted power supply. This in turn has led to addition of TV-based learning which has made education more engaging and fun. The smiles on the faces of the toddlers is a witness to how small changes can make a big difference.

Nutan Kumari, aged 24 years, contributes to her family through her business. “I do vermicomposting, a scientific method of making compost. Materials required include water, cow dung, soil, a cemented tank, dry straw and leaves collected from paddy fields. Around 20-30 women are engaged in this in our village. We got financial support of Rs. One lakh and that was a big boost for us,” Nutan said.

With her husband, Kumari Madhvi has constructed a pond on one acre land at Chandpura panchayat in Begusarai. The money from the business has changed her life.

She isn’t the only one who is witnessing the change.

Ask Nibha Devi of Sankh panchayat who is engaged in multilayer farming, producing bitter gourd, coriander and others and has an income in the range of Rs 7,000 to Rs 8,000. “We now send our son and daughter to school for better education, as our financial condition has improved. Earlier, it was very rough,” she added.

Sanju Devi is now famous as Pashu Sakhi in her village and earns about Rs 7,000 to Rs 8, 000, she smiles. “IndusInd Bank has changed our life”.

Teaching them young: The revamped Anganvadi centre in Begusarai makes education fun with TV-based learning

Smiling faces: Joy after a successful day of training at Dharashiv

Roshan Kushwaha, former-district magistrate, Begusarai has witnessed the stories of change himself. “Private firms such as IndusInd Bank are working actively in our district and are assisting our people, emphasising a focused area and approach with market linkages, and sharing best practices. Volunteers from partner NGOs interact with the people observing and explaining how our farmers can benefit from similar situations and locations.”

To conclude then, IndusInd Bank’s endeavour to create scaleable and replicable models within aspirational districts rests on the belief in “Good ecology is good economics”. Working towards rural empowerment and resource efficiency through its flagship programme, the bank is showing people the power of investing in hope and a better future.

Raising them right: Under the Pashu Sakhi programme, women are taking the lead to improve livestock health and yield