We have taken significant strides in our CSR efforts, with presence in 24 states across India. Since our inception, we have successfully implemented over 141 projects, positively impacting more than 49 Lakhs beneficiaries. In FY 2022-23, we have executed 21 projects, benefitting around 7.30 Lakhs individuals. Moving forward, our Bank is committed to significantly impacting the states of Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh (BIMARU), in FY 2023-24.

Infrastructural Support Through Chote Kadam

Our flagship CSR programme, Chote Kadam, has been instrumental in addressing the grievances of the vulnerable and marginalised communities in which we operate. Through Chote Kadam, we aim to improve the environment and quality of life, these communities while fostering a deeper connection and understanding between corporations and the community. We gather feedback from our regional teams at the ground level and select projects based on their criticality and potential impact.
Recognising that lack of access to basic infrastructure is one of the many challenges faced by unserved and underserved communities, Ujjivan SFB has designed its community development programme to focus on several categories of public infrastructure facilities,
such as:

Livelihood Training and Employability

In partnership with the Divya Nur Foundation, an NGO in Bhubaneswar, we offered livelihood training to 100 unemployed youth affected by the Fani and Yaas cyclones in FY 2021-22. We successfully placed 70 of them in the retail sector, including Khadims, HDB Finance, Hunger Box, Monginis, and Veggiekart, with an average monthly income of ₹ 10,000.
We recognise the challenges faced by persons with disabilities (PWDs), especially the youth community, in finding employment due to poverty, lack of exposure to education and opportunities, stigma, and discrimination. To enable PWDs to have equal employment opportunity, we partnered with Cheshire Disability Trust to identify, counsel, train, and place them in appropriate companies and industries in line with their interests.
Through our CSR initiative and partnership with Cheshire Disability Trust, we trained 200 candidates in Jamshedpur and Mumbai. Of these, 124 were placed with Square Meal Foods, Quess Corp, Bellona Hospitality Services, DHL Logistics, and other companies, with an average monthly income of ₹ 12,000.
Our CSR initiatives also focus on empowering rural women entrepreneurs through our association with Savera Society. We have been enabling these women to make their own sustainable products, adding more and more beneficiaries’ year-on-year to the existing list of 50.

Disaster Relief

We have consistently extended our support to the victims of disasters across the country. Having already benefitted more than 1,27,000 beneficiaries, we went above and beyond by organising healthcare camps in Kamrup, Nagaon Mirza, and Baihata regions that were severely affected by floods in September 2023. This initiative impacted about 700 beneficiaries, even though the CSR liability was nil for the year.

Project Swachh Neighbourhood

We initiated the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan to clean up our neighbourhoods. The project began as a pilot campaign for cleanliness in the areas near our Koramangala branch in Bengaluru. It was later scaled up to cover 112 locations across India in FY 2022-23, with active participation from our employees and local communities. Our objective was to build a sustainable model by educating community members on the importance of maintaining a clean neighbourhood.

Financial Literacy and Inclusion

Diksha+ Financial Literacy Programme (MicroBanking)

Financial education is a fundamental part of our mission, aiming to provide low-income families with access to the necessary financial tools for security and prosperity. The bank has focused on empowering women from low-income households by equipping them with knowledge and tools for safe savings, minimising financial risk, and making informed financial decisions. In FY 2022-23, our financial literacy programme, Diksha+, trained over 1,19,222 customers across 278 branches.

Chillar Bank Financial Literacy Programme (Children of MicroBanking Customers)

The Chillar Bank programme primarily focusses on providing financial literacy to children between the ages of 11 and 17 who are customers of our MicroBanking services. By instilling savings habits at an early age, the programme has positively impacted the children and their parents. It enlightens parents about the advantages of early saving and long-term investments for their children's future. Moreover, as these children are technologically adept and quick learners, they assist their parents in using digital platforms such as UPI apps and mobile banking applications, as well as educate them about potential digital fraud. In FY 2022-23, we successfully educated approximately 40,525 parents and their children. Through the combined efforts of the Diksha+ and Chillar Bank programmes, more than 31,823 customers gained access to a range of financial products offered by our Bank.

Financial Literacy for MSME Customers

In addition to our ongoing Financial Literacy Programme for MicroBanking customers, we are now planning to extend the programme to our MSME (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises) customers, following the directives of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). To support this initiative, we have partnered with Haqdarshak, the first Indian social enterprise to digitalise welfare programmes on a single platform.
Recently, we conducted a pilot run of the programme for our MSME customers in Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu), and Aligarh (Uttar Pradesh). The programme covered a wide range of topics, including financing options for their business needs, information on central registrations, and awareness about various government welfare and financing schemes available to them. During the pilot run, the programme was implemented in two states/Union Territories, and a total of 64 beneficiaries were trained.

Financial Literacy Camps for Rural Banking Customers

We introduced Financial Literacy Camps in collaboration with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). These camps have been established at 132 URC branches across 11 states with the purpose of providing financial education. The educational materials utilised in these camps were designed by the RBI, ensuring their credibility and relevance. To enhance the impact of these camps, we have partnered with the Parinaam Foundation. Through this collaboration, a savings initiative has been integrated into the camps. Families have the opportunity to open savings accounts and gain access to essential banking and financial services, empowering them to manage their finances effectively. The Diksha programme implemented by us has garnered recognition from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) as a pioneering initiative in the field of financial literacy. The total number of beneficiaries from these Financial Literacy Camps exceeds 11,609, with a coverage of 132 URCs.

Financial Literacy Programme - Beyond Ujjivan

We are expanding our flagship financial literacy programme to reach beneficiaries beyond its own customer base. This programme has been specifically tailored to cater to their unique needs. In FY 2022-23, we conducted a pilot training programme in collaboration with Marwari Hospital, Anahat Clinic, Mantri Society, and TNS India Foundation. The total number of beneficiaries reached through this pilot programme was 128.

Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Commitment

ESG aspects are a fundamental part of our bank's core principles. With a strong social orientation, we have voluntarily taken the initiative to implement ESG practices. Our focus is on developing a visionary roadmap that will enable us to make a meaningful impact in the ESG space.
Our Risk Management Committee has been assigned the responsibility of approving and overseeing the implementation of the bank-level policy on ESG parameters. In compliance with regulatory requirements, we published our maiden Business Responsibility and Sustainability Report (BRSR) this year. Furthermore, we plan to voluntarily disclose our sustainability report during this financial year.
We place significant emphasis on optimal resource utilisation in our operations and the digitalisation of our products and services to address environmental concerns. We have carefully analysed the major contributors to our carbon footprint and have formulated a strategy to gradually reduce it. As an initial step, we have discontinued the use of paper cups and plastic water bottles, replacing them with glass and ceramic alternatives. A decarbonisation strategy is being developed and is expected to be rolled out in the first quarter of this financial year.
As a financial institution, we are exploring the opportunities of green finance, which aims to reduce negative environmental impacts. We are committed to generating positive environmental and social impact through our persistence, passion, and progress in adopting and evolving ESG practices.