Through initiatives such as the Hettanahalli Lake restoration and the SkillSync autism program, UST’s long-term environmental and disability projects have reached over one lakh people across 127 interventions
UST, a global company focused on AI-driven digital solutions and technology transformation, has once again earned national recognition for its work in social responsibility. At the Indian CSR Awards 2025, the company was honoured in two categories: one for its large-scale water conservation programs and another for its work in inclusive education, health, and livelihoods for persons with disabilities.
The awards were given in the categories of Most Impactful Save Water Initiative of the Year and Education, Health and Livelihood Initiatives for People with Disabilities. This marks the fourth consecutive year UST has been recognised at the Indian CSR Awards, a testament to the continuity, scale, and effectiveness of its work across Indian communities.
Established in 1999, UST has anchored its community initiatives in the principle of transforming lives through local, measurable outcomes. The company’s CSR footprint now spans nine Indian states with 127 active and completed projects that have reached more than one lakh individuals. These efforts focus on infrastructure, sustainability, education, inclusion, and health outcomes.
Among its water conservation achievements, UST led major lake restoration projects in partnership with local organisations. In 2024 and 2025, the company worked with the Environmentalist Foundation of India to rejuvenate Hettanahalli Lake in Karnataka and Karanaithangal Lake in Tamil Nadu. These efforts restored a total of 60 acres and helped preserve an estimated 170 billion gallons of water. In Coimbatore, the company launched Project Paryavarna, which included the restoration of eight water troughs used by wildlife. These interventions are supported by a combination of scientific frameworks and community participation.
The company’s broader environmental strategy includes watershed management, forest area protection, coastal conservation, and tree planting. Six lake-focused projects have been implemented in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka over the past three years, forming the environmental core of UST’s CSR direction.
UST also received recognition for its long-standing initiatives aimed at supporting persons with disabilities. This includes the SkillSync vocational program designed for children on the autism spectrum. In addition, the company runs the UST-V Able Scholarship Program, which supports 167 students with disabilities across six Indian states.
Infrastructure support has also been extended to special schools, benefiting nearly 170 students. This has included physical upgrades that improve access, learning conditions, and hygiene. The company also works on accessibility solutions such as assistive mobility devices, including wheelchairs, visual-aid tools, and transfer hoists. These devices are provided in response to actual needs and are selected to ensure day-to-day usability for recipients.
UST’s disability and social inclusion programs are delivered in collaboration with partner organisations including Vidhyadhan, RampMyCity Foundation, Neomotion, and the Academy for Severe Handicaps and Autism. These partnerships expand the reach and quality of the programs, ensuring consistency and tailoring across regions.
Smita Sharma, Global Program Manager for CSR at UST, accepted both awards in New Delhi. Speaking at the ceremony, she shared that the recognition belongs equally to the CSR teams, non-profit collaborators, and the communities who have participated and co-created the results. She stated that programs such as lake restoration and disability support reflect the company’s belief that social change must be shared, practical, and long-term.
Smita also represented UST in a panel discussion on CSR and community development held during the event. She spoke about the importance of grounded, need-driven programs and emphasised that social impact cannot be approached with a standardised model. Instead, she advocated for collaboration, regional adaptation, and slow but steady capacity-building.
This year’s recognition continues a strong record of CSR honours for the company. In 2024 alone, UST received the UK Business Culture Award for sustainability, the Best CSR Award, and the Mahatma Award for CSR Excellence for the third year running. Smita Sharma was awarded the Mahatma Young Changemaker Award in the same year. The company also earned acknowledgements from the National Institute of Personnel Management and the Project Management Institute in Kerala. At the Indian Social Impact Awards 2024, UST was recognised for Best Women’s Livelihood Initiative and Best Environment-Friendly Initiative, and the India CSR Awards also honoured its Best Women Employment Support Initiative.
UST’s CSR programs are structured to reflect both its technological expertise and its grassroots approach. While the company is globally known for its digital and AI-driven transformation work, it approaches social responsibility with a clear focus on long-term relevance, measurable impact, and local adaptability.
Each project is developed in partnership with credible on-ground organisations and is linked to broader developmental goals. From educational equity to environmental resilience, the company’s CSR work avoids one-off campaigns in favour of long-term engagement. This allows for deeper relationships with the communities and for programs to evolve over time in line with local needs.
The company’s lake rejuvenation work is not limited to excavation or infrastructure. It includes biodiversity monitoring, community water use planning, and rainfall-based conservation design. Its disability inclusion work extends beyond donations to involve academic mentoring, skill-building, and post-training support. Across all programs, emphasis is placed on sustainability, community involvement, and consistent monitoring.
With more than two decades of operational experience, UST’s approach to CSR is tightly integrated with its core philosophy: that technology and impact must serve not only industries but people. In a time when environmental stress and social exclusion remain urgent challenges, UST’s programs show how private organisations can contribute to community wellbeing through precision, humility, and continuity.
The Indian CSR Awards 2025 not only recognise successful outcomes but also reward organisations that demonstrate the ability to stay committed across regions, years, and evolving social contexts. UST’s recognition is therefore not just for what has been done but for how consistently and carefully it continues to engage.
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