HDFC Bank fielded 1,500 employees at the Tata Mumbai Marathon 2025, making it the largest corporate presence in the event’s history. The participants ran to support educational infrastructure improvements in rural Maharashtra schools.
The bank’s contingent included 15 individuals dressed as ‘Vigil Aunty’, the company’s fraud awareness mascot, who has amassed over two million social media followers since the campaign’s launch in 2022.
Through partnership with Light of Life Trust NGO, the bank has allocated Rs 2.78 crore to upgrade facilities across 37 government-recognised rural schools in eight Maharashtra districts. The project aims to benefit 9,250 students by establishing science laboratories, digital classrooms, libraries, and basic amenities like drinking water and functional toilets.
Kaizad M. Bharucha, deputy managing director, HDFC Bank, confirmed this was their largest employee participation in the marathon to date. The initiative falls under the bank’s corporate social responsibility program, Parivartan.
The presence of Vigil Aunty representatives at the marathon highlighted the bank’s ongoing efforts to raise awareness about cybercrime and banking fraud. Since its inception, the campaign has covered over 60 different fraud schemes to educate customers about preventive measures.
The funds will target students at risk of dropping out from rural secondary schools, though specific implementation timelines were not disclosed.
