DBS Foundation and Haqdarshak Empowerment Solutions Pvt Ltd (HESPL) jointly held a financial inclusion drive at Salem, Tamil Nadu as part of their larger partnership which focuses on increasing access to social welfare schemes for underserved segments like domestic workers, farm labourers, sanitation workers and daily wage earners.
The programme, which was kicked off in early 2023 initially targeted impacting 2,00,000 individuals in totality, but has crossed this milestone, reaching more than 206,400 beneficiaries throughout India till date. More than 66,000 citizens have been supported in Tamil Nadu so far through financial literacy training and enrolment assistance for welfare schemes. The impact of the initiative has been particularly notable in Salem, where more than 25,000 beneficiaries, some of them enrolled in multiple applications for schemes have gained access to critical financial resources. Nearly 90 per cent of the beneficiaries are women, underlining the programme’s commitment to gender-inclusive empowerment.
Among other locations, Tamil Nadu was one of the key states for the implementation of the project, where 207 program workers provided underserved citizens with training on financial management and assistance applying for welfare schemes using the Haqdarshak mobile app. There are at least 24 government welfare schemes that beneficiaries throughout Tamil Nadu have successfully applied for through the DBS-Haqdarshak initiative, giving them access to their rightful entitlements and providing a social cushion. Moreover, nearly 790 families in the state have transitioned into the formal economy, opening bank accounts, securing credit, and improving their financial stability. At the Salem event, beneficiaries and Haqdarshak agents shared inspiring real-world impact stories.
Speaking about the association, Azmat Habibulla, Managing Director – Group Strategic Marketing & Communications, DBS Bank India, “One of the core focus areas of the DBS Foundation is to further financial inclusion for vulnerable segments of the population. Towards this end, our social protection program with Haqdarshak has been very successful in its objective to equip individuals with the information and resources needed to secure a better financial future. Working together with a purposeful enterprise like Haqdarshak has helped us create long term social value. DBS Foundation is committed to scale this impact even further through an additional funding commitment of SGD 5.1 million, which was recently announced. The impact in Tamil Nadu, particularly in Salem, has been significant - reinforcing our shared commitment to catalysing positive change. Together with Haqdarshak, we are empowering underserved citizens, increasing their access to the formal financial system and addressing real knowledge gaps with targeted solutions to build long-term resilience in the community.”
The program is part of DBS’s broader commitment, announced in 2023, to allocate SGD 1 billion over the next decade to improve the lives and livelihoods of low-income and underprivileged individuals. The new program, announced in February 2025, aims to further impact 500,000 beneficiaries nationwide, with a strong focus on rural regions across Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, and Odisha.
Aniket Doegar, Co-founder & CEO, Haqdarshak, said, “The impact of DBS Phase 1 has been profound across multiple states. In Tamil Nadu, particularly in Salem, the initiative has strengthened our shared commitment to driving positive change. A total of 66,009 citizens across Tamil Nadu benefitted from the first phase, out of which 86.37% were women and 2.33% were senior citizens above the age of 65 years. Additionally, 147 out of 170 women agents were trained as ‘Haqdarshaks’, generating a total livelihood earning of INR 57.67 lakh. The approximate value of benefits delivered amounts to approximately INR 496.06 crore. Building on this success, Phase 2 will focus on fostering long-term economic resilience by equipping underprivileged communities with the skills and confidence to access formal benefits and sustain their progress. With the DBS Foundation as a trusted partner, we look forward to expanding our impact and driving meaningful transformation.”
In 2018, Haqdarshak received a DBS Foundation Social Enterprise Grant to develop and scale its digital platform, and in 2020, the Foundation further supported it with a Business Transformation and Improvement Grant during the pandemic. DBS Foundation’s work is guided by its Impact Beyond signature programmes, which brings together like-minded partners to tackle pressing societal issues. By focusing on collective action, DBS Foundation aims to create impact that goes beyond banking, borders, and generations.
Ramakrishnan Hariharan - Team Lead - CSR, DBS Bank India, Aniket Doegar - Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, Haqdarshak, Gayathri Shanmugam - Chief Operating Officer, Haqdarshak were present at the press meet.