A University for tribal students

The Kalinga ­Institute of Social Sciences (KISS), ­Bhubaneswar, has recently been granted ­University ­status by the HRD ­Ministry, making it the first ­exclusive tribal ­university in the world. It has also been accorded Special ­Consultative ­status by the United Nations ­Economic and Social Council.

The institution, founded by Professor Achyuta ­Samantha in 1993 with just 125 children from the ­neighbouring tribal areas, has grown over the years, with 27,000 students now. It offers holistic residential ­education from ­kindergarten to post ­graduation, along with ­vocational skill ­training and ­healthcare ­facilities, free of cost for all tribal students. Branches are to be set up in 30 ­districts of Odisha and other States over the next decade to ­provide education to 200,000 poor ­indigenous children.

Rotary News had ­featured about the institute in its October 2014 issue (https://rotarynewsonline.org/their-smiles-tell-the-story/).