Bengaluru : As part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative, UST, a leading digital transformation solutions company, provided essential supplies to the native tribal community members who work as support staff for the forest department in Hediyala and A.M. Gudi of Bandipur Forest Range, Karnataka. The essential kits were distributed to 120 support staff, many from tribal communities, who brave difficult terrain and unpredictable weather to safeguard wildlife and preserve natural heritage. The carefully curated supply kit comprised of sturdy jackets, raincoats, boots, binoculars, and lightweight carrying bags. Considering their 24/7 duty, a lightweight water bottle and tiffin box would ease the challenges faced by the frontline staff in the demanding mountain terrains.
Through this initiative, UST’s CSR program has extended support to 6 out of the 20 forest range zones in and around the Bandipur region over the past three years, reinforcing its commitment to environmental stewardship and community empowerment. This initiative was led by Kirankumar Doreswamy, Vice President and Center Head, Bengaluru, and was supported by members of UST Bengaluru CSR team. Team members from UST present during the CSR program included Aditya Kumar, Manu Kolara Rudraiah, Nidhi Garg, Nitin Narayan Deshik, Rajiva Lochan Seshadri, Santhosh Shetty, Swetha Srinivas, Vikas Raju, and Vishwas Shivashankar.
Speaking about the initiative, Smita Sharma, Global Program Manager, CSR, UST, said, “At UST, we firmly believe in contributing to the planet and people through inclusive and sustainable development. The support staff, many of whom hail from local tribal communities, are the backbone of daily forest protection efforts, working tirelessly to safeguard wildlife and maintain ecological balance. By supporting these unsung heroes, we are proud to contribute to the preservation of our national heritage. I would also like to appreciate our CSR team’s dedication and volunteering efforts in driving these meaningful initiatives.”
Over the last five years, UST undertook a series of impactful initiatives to support forest personnel and tribal communities in the Bandipur and Kabini forest regions. In 2021, UST distributed essential safety kits to 60 forest personnel, comprising bags, jackets, shoes, caps, torches, shirts, and water bottles to enhance their safety and efficiency in challenging environments. Following this, in 2022, through the ‘Adopt a School’ initiative, UST upgraded infrastructure facilities at the Sargur Forest School, benefiting over 550 students from the tribal community with improved learning environments through the provision of desks, tables, chairs, and racks. Most recently, in 2024, UST extended its support to 100 forest guards and anti-poaching camp members, as well as the local tribal community in DB Kuppe, through the distribution of raincoats, gumboots, torches, and night vision binoculars to strengthen forest patrolling and protection efforts.
