Bhubaneswar: The Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) has grown steadily since it was established in the early 1990s to become the world’s first-ever exclusive tribal university in 2017, recognized by the UGC and Union Ministry of Education.
It not merely provides residential education and free lodging/boarding, but has also put in place a mechanism to provide end-to-end solutions to indigenous learners from 62 tribal groups. KISS is, thus, a symbol of empowerment of destitute tribal children.
The university also carries out studies and research in traditional tribal knowledge and acts as a repository of ethnic wisdom. Many young tribal children from the tribal hinterland of Odisha and other states, who had undergone trials and tribulations of depravity, can now look ahead with hope after studying at this institution, whose founder is eminent edupreneur, social activist and philanthropist Achyuta Samanta.
After more than three decades of his journey as edupreneur, Samanta has become a name to reckon with in the field of education — both within India and abroad. KISS can be considered to be Samanta’s pet project.
A Member of Parliament, Samanta has contributed immensely to art, culture, literature, film, media, society, national integration and sports, besides education, tribal upliftment, healthcare and rural development.
Besides KISS, he had founded the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) — an ‘institution of eminence’ and one of the most prominent universities in India for professional education with more than 30,000 students.
KISS is home for 60,000 indigenous children, for whom it’s all absolutely free.
The journey of Shradhanjali, a product of KISS, is one of hope and change.
She was born to Ananya and Nippon Patamajhi at Gahakia village of Daringibadi block in Kandhamal district. Her father Ananya was a small-time farmer with a patchy land. The Patamajhi family had three daughters, Shradhanjali being the youngest. Her mother Nippon worked as a daily wager to supplement family income.
Fate took a turn for the worse when Ananya succumbed to an unknown disease, leaving behind the distraught wife and helpless daughters.
It was an acquaintance from Daringbadi who informed Shradhanjali’s mother about KISS and the multifold facilities available there. Nippon then got her admitted to KISS in 2016.
As the years rolled by, Shradhanjali adjusted very well into the KISS ecosystem. In addition to excelling in studies, she has also taken to vocational training in a big way.
“I hope to clear my secondary examination with flying colours and complete my higher education. One day I want to become a teacher and fulfil my dreams,” said Shradhanjali who is in Class X now.