The Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) here has been conferred with the highest global recognition on Literacy, the UNESCO International Literacy Prize 2022.
The prize carries an endowment of US$ 20,000, a medal and a citation. It was given away at a ceremony organised by the UNESCO in Côte d’Ivoire on Thursday.
The KISS has the coveted recognition to be the fifth recipient from India and the first and only institute from Odisha to receive this honour. It is also the third among the Indian nonprofit NGOs and the first Indian tribal-based organisation to be conferred with the award, which is a matter of pride for India.
The prize was announced by KISS founder Dr Achyuta Samanta during International Literacy Day celebration in the campus.
The KISS, a fully free residential education institution, provides scope for comprehensive development, vocational and sports empowerment for 70,000 tribal children (30,000 children pursuing education at campus and 40,000 alumni).
Founded in 1993 with 125 students, the KISS has become the world's largest educational institution for tribal children. It has been in special consultative status with ECOSOC since 2015, affiliated to the UN Department of Public Information.