US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Nisha Desai Biswal visited the Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) and the KIIT here on Monday. The senior US Government official visited the institutes along with 11 delegates, including US Consulate General, Hyderabad Michael Mullins.
Terming her interaction with 25,000 tribal boys and girls at the KISS a very important and impressive event, she stated, “I have been to many countries in my career and met many young children, but I have not seen a place like this”.
Referring to KISS Founder Dr Achyuta Samanta, she said KISS is special because it was started with a simple dream of a humble man to expand opportunities and education. “I am humbled by your vision, your ambition and the commitment to address the vision”.
Highlighting her Indian roots, she said, “I am from a small town of Gujarat and the daughter-in-law of Odisha. It is my first visit to Odisha with my family and I’m very much impressed by the culture, heritage, and beauty of Odisha”. She was accompanied by her husband, father-in-law, mother-in-law and two daughters.
Biswal, who works for better coordination between India and the US, said the two countries can create a future that is sustainable, peaceful and prosperous.
The US Assistant Secretary of State also reviewed English Access Micro Scholarship Programme, which is being implemented by the KISS with the help of the US Embassy in India.