New Delhi : AU Foundation, the CSR arm of AU Small Finance Bank (AU SFB), India’s largest Small Finance Bank and the first in over a decade to receive in-principle approval to transition into a Universal Bank, marked Van Mahotsav this month with a nationwide tree plantation initiative, aligned with the Ministry of Education’s “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam 3.0” campaign, reinforcing its commitment to environmental sustainability and community engagement. The flagship event was held in New Delhi on July 9, graced by Mr. H. R. Khan, Part-Time Chairman & Independent Director, AU Small Finance Bank.
As part of the initiative, over 580 AU SFB branches across 21 states and 4 Union Territories have participated in plantation drives, planting over 5,000 saplings in schools and community spaces nationwide. The drive, which began on 1st July, continues through the month, concluding on 31st July, 2026.
The flagship event was held at Kerala Public School, New Delhi, where Mr. Khan was welcomed by Mr. Hari Kumar K.G., Principal, Kerala Public School, along with students and teachers. Mr. Khan participated in a plantation drive within the school campus alongside students, teachers, and the AU Bank team, planting & distributions of over 90 native saplings chosen for their ecological benefits and ability to support local biodiversity.
The event also brought together environmental awareness and financial literacy, two areas central to AU’s community engagement. Following his address to the students, Mr. Khan presided over a Financial Literacy Quiz and prize distribution, engaging 80 number of participating students] students on the fundamentals of saving and responsible money management. The event concluded with the felicitation of school dignitaries and the distribution of saplings to teachers, encouraging them to carry the initiative forward within the school community.
Speaking at the event, Mr. H. R. Khan, Chairman, AU Small Finance Bank, said: “At AU Small Finance Bank, we believe sustainability must be rooted in action and community. Van Mahotsav is a reminder that environmental responsibility is not a seasonal gesture but a continuing commitment one that must be nurtured, quite literally, from the ground up.
It has been a privilege to plant saplings alongside the students at Kerala Public School today. Each sapling is more than a symbol; it is a living promise of cleaner air, greener spaces, and a more responsible tomorrow. By pairing this with a conversation on financial literacy, we hope to send a simple message to these young minds — that securing one’s future and protecting the environment are not separate pursuits, but part of the same responsibility. I am proud to see our branches and teams across India come together during Van Mahotsav to make this vision a reality.”
Similar plantation events led by members of the Board of Directors of AU Small Finance Bank will be organised across multiple locations in 6 states, extending the initiative’s reach and reinforcing institutional leadership on environmental action at every level of the organisation.
