The Business Bytes
THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU
MUMBAI, MARCH 4, 2025
Axis Bank, one of India’s largest private sector banks, hosted Abhisaran 2025, a multi-stakeholder engagement for its partner NGOs and leadership team to unveil the One Axis CSR Vision, a unified approach to driving social impact across the Axis ecosystem. The event marked a significant milestone in the Bank’s CSR journey, celebrating the successful completion of its Mission2Million initiative and launching Mission4Million, an ambitious program aimed at supporting an additional 2 million vulnerable households through sustainable livelihoods, financial empowerment, and skill development.
Abhisaran 2025 saw participation from senior bank officials and Trustees of Axis Bank Foundation (ABF), including Chairperson S. Ramadorai, Executive Director of Axis Bank Munish Sharda, and Group Executive for Strategic Programs and Sustainability Vijay Mulbagal. The event also brought together founders and leaders from over 70 NGO partners to explore innovative solutions in livelihood creation, educational outcomes, financial inclusion, healthcare access, and environmental sustainability. A panel discussion featured industry experts such as Aloka Majumdar, MD and Global Head of Philanthropy & Head of Sustainability-India at HSBC; Dr. Anand Bang, Joint Director of SEARCH and Advisor to Tata Trusts and the Government of Maharashtra; Harish Hande, Founder & CEO of Selco Foundation; and Nimesh Sumati, Co-Founder of Caring Friends, who shared their insights on corporate social responsibility and its evolving landscape.
The discussions at Abhisaran 2025 delved into Axis Bank’s seven core CSR themes—Disaster Relief, Education, Environment, Financial Inclusion, Healthcare, Livelihoods, and Sports. The event highlighted the Bank’s strategic approach, combining macro-level perspectives with grassroots insights to create meaningful and sustainable impact. Through these initiatives, Axis Bank has extended its reach to nearly 530 districts across India, touching some of the most remote and vulnerable communities.
On this occasion, ABF marked the achievement of completing Mission2Million, a commitment undertaken in 2019. With the launch of Mission4Million, the Bank aims to support 2 million rural households by 2031 while expanding its focus areas to include sustainable livelihoods, climate resilience, and capacity building. The Bank’s livelihood initiatives will focus on enabling income generation through diverse models such as crafts, enterprises, and agri-based solutions. Climate-conscious strategies and alternative funding models will be integrated to drive long-term sustainability. Additionally, capacity building and community leadership programs will empower local stakeholders to lead change, ensuring long-term self-sufficiency.
Speaking on the occasion, Vijay Mulbagal, Group Executive for Strategic Programs and Sustainability at Axis Bank, emphasized the Bank’s commitment to social impact, stating, “Abhisaran 2025 is an occasion to celebrate both our past achievements and reaffirm our unwavering commitment to creating lasting social impact. Guided by our One Axis CSR Vision, which focuses on seven key pillars like Education, Environment, Healthcare, Livelihoods, and Sports—we are driving holistic development and sustainable progress across communities. As part of this vision, we are also setting the stage for a brighter future with an ambitious new initiative: empowering 2 million additional households by 2031, enabling resilience and leadership among rural and vulnerable communities.”
Dhruvi Shah, CEO and Executive Trustee of Axis Bank Foundation, reflected on the success of Mission2Million and the road ahead for Mission4Million, adding, “Mission2Million was built on the strength of our partner organizations, collaboration, and an unwavering belief in community-led change. As we move forward with Mission4Million, we will strive to deepen our impact through capacity-building and cross-sector partnerships.”
The event also featured a series of thematic conversations and expert dialogues, fostering cross-learning and collaboration among CSR leaders and NGO partners. A panel discussion on the Role of Philanthropy for Impact explored the evolution of CSR, the impact of mandatory CSR policies, and the future of corporate-led social impact. Interactive workshops covered essential topics such as monitoring and evaluation, fundraising strategies, and design for impact, equipping partners with tools for more effective execution. Additionally, real-world project showcases demonstrated high-impact CSR initiatives, inspiring future collaborations.
Abhisaran 2025 reinforced Axis Bank’s leadership in sustainable social development, reaffirming its commitment to inclusive growth and community empowerment.
