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Odisha's KISS scripting new chapters of holistic education

UNI, New Delhi | Published : 12th August 2018

Odisha's Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) is adding new dimensions to the concept of holistic education with its programmes, aimed to cater to the needs of poor and tribal students of the eastern Indian states.

Founded by eminent educationist and social activist Dr Achyuta Samanta in 1992 with an aim to bring social transformation through holistic education, KISS has over the years grown considerably and currently has over 37,000 students enrolled across its 10 centres in Odisha, where students are given food, healthcare, education from kindergarten to post graduation free of cost.

"It is the largest residential institute for tribals in the world providing every basic amenities of life absolutely free. KISS is a unique experiment to eradicate poverty through the use of education as a tool to empower and provide sustainable employment to underprivileged tribal sections of the society," Dr Samanta said.

Talking to UNI, Dr Samanta, a Rajya Sabha MP also shared the challenges of bringing children to the institute.

Initially, parents were not keen to send their kids; they did not want to come out of the shell they were living in since ages. These tribals had confided themselves with nature. It was an arduous task to convince parents to bring children to the mainstream.

With 125 students, the KISS started its journey. Now KISS is a home to 50, 000 tribal children including 27,500 existing students, 12,500 alumni and 10,000 in 10 district centres of KISS, he said.

When asked about KISS major milestone, Prof Samanta, who had lost his father at the age of four said, "Education empowers, education eradicates poverty and education reduces naxalism. Even Naxalites want normal life for their kids. They too want to come into the mainstream. We have students who are from Maoist affected areas and some of them belong to Naxalite families.

However, the 53-year-old bachelor did not disclose the names and details of such students.

The tribal students not only excel in academics but also in sports. KISS has produced many sportspersons in multiple disciplines who have been regularly participating in international sports meet, including Olympics, Asian Games, and Commonwealth Games. In the forthcoming 18th Asian Games in Jakarta, four students from KIIT & KISSall girlshave been selected to represent the country.

A record number of 24 players has been prepared for Rugby from the world's largest tribal university. The Institute which is also the world's first free and fully residential tribal university has 15 international standard sports complexes with gyms, swimming pools, synthetic volleyball, basketball and tennis courts, besides indoor badminton, billiards, table tennis, yoga and squash courts.

"Home to the 27,500 poorest of the poor tribal children, KISS was founded with a seed capital of Rs 5000. KISS was started when there was not adequate awareness about professional education in Odisha. Tribal education in an innovative model was not even thought of. It was a gray area where every stakeholder failed or did not muster up the courage to initiate the first step," said Dr Samanta, recipient of National Award for the welfare of children 2016 by President Ram Nath Kovind.

Prof Samanta with great hardship had completed his graduation and post-graduation degree in Chemistry. He strongly believes that his cause is not only about providing opportunities and arranging certain facilities for the deprived but beyond it, by enabling the complete transformation of children. The students have excelled in academics and co-curricular activities.

KISS also becomes a centre of earning too. Students are being imparted many vocational training like candle making, stitching. These products are sold to various other places and the money earned from selling gets deposited in students account and also being sent to their parents. In a way, kids earn and send money to their parents.

Students of tribal community of neighbouring states including West Bengal, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and from North East also get admitted in KISS and preference is always given to students who belong to much below the poverty line.

KISS has launched many other initiatives including KISS Humanitarian Award, International Day of Art of Giving, Kanya Krian- a massive awareness programme to stop violence against women and the girl child.

India, represented by KISS, won the bid against Croatia by a huge margin to host the next edition of the prestigious World Congress of Anthropology at KISS in 2023. It will host the World Congress in collaboration with Utkal University and Sambalpur University.

The World Congress will be held in India after a long gap of 45 years. More than 10000 delegates from over 150 countries are expected to participate in the World Congress, which is held every five years in different parts of the world.

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