Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences

The Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences(KISS) works to provide children from tribal communities with a full-residential education programme. The inst Read moreitution has been created to provide equal opportunity and access to children to enable them to break the cycle of poverty. Students from grades 6 to 10 are also trained in a vocational trade based on their interests. The proceeds from the sale of the products made by the children go back to the students concerned. This helps the students to earn while learning. UN ECOSOC has given Grants Special Consultative Status to KISS. It has also worked in partnership with the United Nation Development Program(UNDP). In 2017, it became the world's first university for tribal communities. It was also awarded "NGO of the year" by UBS Forum at CSR Summit in 2019.

Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) was founded by the Eminent Educationist Achyuta Samanta in 1993 with only 125 tribal students. It has grown in all dimensions to become the world’s largest residential institution for 25,308 students of tribal origin (covering 62 tribes including 13 primitive tribes). It provides education (from Standard I to Post Graduation), accommodation, food, health care, study material, clothing, vocational training (farm and non-farm sector), games and sports, computer education, state-of-the-art pedagogy and facilities totally free of cost. KISS has been recognized by the United Nations and has been accorded Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council and is amongst the top 500 NGO's of the world recognized by NGO Advisor. Teachers are asked to motivate the tribal children in to study with special care as most of the students are first generation learners. Apart from class room teaching we also engage the students in various sports and other competitions. We organize festivals to entertain the student. Students are also taken out of campus to different places of visit. Classes are taken by experienced teachers and review examinations are done periodically. Students are encouraged to participate in all the classroom activities. Reward and prizes are also given to encourage the children on their pursuit of excellence in different fields.
All the necessities of the students like food, medical care and other day to day requirements are taken care of with utmost care
To build up KISS as a preferred center of learning for the poorest of the poor sections of the society with a focus on formal and livelihood education and scope for all-round development.

From its initial steps as a nascent school to becoming the world's largest learning hub for indigenous communities in the world, Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) has been preceded by so many milestones in its almost three-decade-long existence.

• KISS conferred with the UNESCO King Sejong International Literacy Prize 2022
• KISS is the recipient of Special Consultative Status with United Nations Economic and Social Council
• KISS is associated with United Nations Department of Public Information
• KISS partnered with United Nations Development Programme in 2021
• KISS partnered with World Food Programme India in 2022
• KISS partnered with UNESCO MGIEP for Online Course on Social and Emotional Learning
• KISS partnered with Government of Odisha and UNESCO for Fit for Life Programme in India 2023
• KISS becomes Knowledge and Logistical Hub of FIFA's 'Football for School' Initiative
• KISS inks MoU with National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA)
• KISS bagged four Guinness World Records
• KISS received the Leadership Award by National Commission for Scheduled Tribes
• KISS awarded NGO of the year by UBS Forum at CSR Summit in 2019
• KISS hosted Commonwealth Big Lunch with Commonwealth High Commissioners, Representatives from High Commissions of 53 commonwealth countries
• KISS conferred with Energy Globe Award in Tehran in 2018
• KISS Becomes the first exclusive tribal University in the World in 2017
• MOU inked between United Nations Development programme - UNDP and KISS.
• KISS is Validated by charities AID Foundation(India)
• KISS Deemed to be University inducted outstanding indigenous knowledge practitioners from pristine tribal backgrounds as Professors of Practice (PoP)
• KISS partnered with the Ministry of Culture, Government of India to host the Janjatiya Gaurav Divas 2022.
• Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) has been awarded the Guide Star India Champion Level-Platinum Certification by Guide Star India