Dr. Achyuta Samanta, Founder, KIIT & KISS, inducted as member of a high-level committee on higher education, constituted by the Planning Commission of India.

Samanta Made a Member of Central Forest Right Committee

Dr. Achyuta Samanta, Founder, KIIT & KISS, inducted as member of a high-level committee on higher education, constituted by the Planning Commission of India

Dr. Achyuta Samanta, Founder, KIIT & KISS has been inducted as Member of a 12-member high level committee on higher education, constituted by the Planning Commission of India. As per an order of the Planning Commission of India, Committee on Corporate Sector Participation on Higher Education, chaired by Mr. N. R. Narayana Murthy, would work for formulation of the Twelfth Five Year Plan (2012-17) for higher education. It would examine and provide recommendations on the potential and modalities for corporate sector participation in higher education in support of development of national education and innovation hubs and the Institutions of National Importance (INIs) / Centres of Excellence. The committee would also suggest models for industry-institute interaction to act as catalysts of innovation and sustainable and inclusive economic and regional development. Samanta would work for a term of 5 years. Other members of the committee include Mr. Kiran Karnik, former President, NASSCOM; Prof. P. Balaram, Director, IISc, Bangaluru; Mr. R. Gupalakrishnan, member - Secretary, National Innovation Council; Mr. Naushad Forbes, Forbes Marshall; Dr. Ashok Misra, former Director, IIT Bombay; Mr. Sudhir Vasudeva, CMD, ONGC; Mr. Arup Roy Choudhury, CMD, NTPC and others.

Dr. Achyuta Samanta, Founder, KIIT & KISS elected Executive Council (EC) Member for ISCA

Dr. Achyuta Samanta, Founder, KIIT & KISS has been elected as a Member of Executive Council (EC) for the Indian Science Congress Association (ISCA). In the recently concluded election for the EC, Dr. Samanta secured highest no. of vote to become the first odia to be included in the Executive Council of ISCA. In the highest body ISCA only 10 members are elected from all over the country to take important decisions on various activities relating to Science and Technology in the country. It is indeed another feather to Dr. Samanta's cap since he has been a member of UGC, AICTE etc. With his inclusion Dr. Samanta is bound to provide a new direction in the field of science education in the country. Since the ISCA will be organized in 2013 at Kolkata, in which Dr. Manmohan Singh, Hon’ble Prime Minister of India is the president elect, the newly EC has a greater role in it. With his inclusion in the EC, ISCA is expected to get a new direction in organizing the centenary session.

Dainik Bhaskar India Pride Award 2011 for Dr. Samanta

Dr. A. Samanta, Founder, KIIT & KISS was honoured with the ‘Dainik Bhaskar India Pride Award – 2011’ for being a Change Agent in the field of Social Development and Equity at a glittering function held in New Delhi on 21st October 2011 attended by Shri Jairam Ramesh, Hon'ble Union Minister of Rural Development and Drinking Water & Sanitation and Shri Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Hon'ble Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission, Govt. of India. The eight-member jury headed by Hon’ble Shri Justice J. S. Verma, former Chief Justice of India unanimously zeroed on Dr. Samanta for the award instituted by the leading media house of India - the Dainik Bhaskar Group.

Honorary Doctorate for KIIT & KISS Founder

In recognition to Founder of KIIT & KISS, Dr. A. Samanta's contribution in the fields of education and social service, Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeetha, Tirupati, a centre of excellence for Traditional Sastras, conferred Degree of Doctorate (Honoris Causa) on him at its 14th Annual Convocation Ceremony held on 18th October 2011.

The citation recognized Dr. Samanta as an able administrator, a dedicated social activist and a multifarious personality. Receiving his fifth Honorary Doctorate from the Chancellor, Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeetha, Dr. J. B. Patnaik, His Excellency the Governor of Assam, Dr. Samanta thanked the University for bestowing the honour on him.

It is to be mentioned here that while on all previous occasions, Dr. Samanta was conferred the Doctorate Degree by the reputed foreign Universities, this one is from a reputed and traditional Indian University directly under the administrative control of the Govt. of India. Earlier this month, he had received the prestigious Godfrey Phillips Bravery Award (For Social Bravery) for valuable contribution in the field of tribal empowerment through KISS.

Prof. Harekrishna Satapathy,Vice Chancellor of Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeetha and Prof. A. Gurumurthi, Registrar also graced the convocation ceremony.

A statue of the Father of the Nation was unveiled at Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) by Gandhi Global Family (GGF) on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti. Eminent Gandhian social workers participated in the programme and threw light upon Mahatma Gandhi's ideals. Addressing 15,000 tribal boys and girls of KISS, they said that KISS has been able to fulfil Gandhiji's dreams. Reaching benefits of literacy and education to deprived sections of the society was Gandhiji's dream, and KISS has been able to fulfill this dream today, the guests remarked. They advised students to follow the path shown by Mahatma Gandhi.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. A. Samanta, National Secretary of Gandhi Global Family and Founder, KIIT & KISS informed about the initiatives taken by Gandhi Global Family for wide publicity of Gandhiji's ideals through various programmes. It may be mentioned that Odisha Chapter of Gandhi Global Family has been undertaking various programmes every year in the areas of peace and amity, Gram Swaraj, removal of social vices, etc. in order to take Gandhian thinking and values to the people. Dr. Bimalendu Mohanty, Journalist Pradosh Patnaik, Surendra Das, Dr. Shashanka Chudamani, Dilip Hali, Social worker Rabi Behera, Priyadarshi Mishra, State Coordinator of GGF Dr. Dilip Srichandan, Surya Mohanty and Chinmay Sundar Das were among those present.

“RATHAYATRA” celebrated at Shrivani Khetra, KISS

The world famous auspicious occasion of Rath Yatra was celebrated at Shrivani khetra of KISS on 3rd July 2011 amid religious fervor and gaiety. More than 30 thousand devotees participated in pulling the three decorated chariots of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra being carried on three colourful wooden chariots, festooned with flowers, appliqué and mural paintings.

The Pahandi and other rituals like Mangala Arati, Mailama,Tadapalagi, Rosha Homi, Abakasha, Surya Puja, Chariots inauguration etc followed by procession of deities from temple sanctum to the chariots began in the morning as per the ethics and rituals of Mahaprabhu Shri Jagganath Temple of Shri Khetra, Puri. Thousands of devotees gathered to pull the three chariots in the afternoon after Dr. Achyuta Samanta, Founder, KIIT and KISS performed the holy ritual of cherapahanra, the ceremonial sweeping of the Chariots. The special feature of Ghosayatra here is that, Devadalan, the chariot of Goddess Subhadra was pulled by only females.

Special sculptors from Puri were involved in making the chariots. All rituals were conducted under the guidance of Shri Acharya Pandit Surya Narayan Rathasarma. A few years ago, Shrivani khetra at KISS was set up on the suggestion of Gajapati Maharaja Shri Dibya Singh Dev.

Second Term for Dr. Achyuta Samanta in National Coir Board

Dr. A. Samanta, Founder, KIIT Group of Institutions & KISS has been renominated as the Member of National Coir Board for a term of three years. He will continue till June, 2014 as member of Coir Board. Being the first Odia in the National Coir Board, Achyuta Samanta's appointment has been hailed by intellectuals throughout the state. Dr. Samanta was first appointed National Coir Board in 2008. Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Government of India re-nominated him before the end of his term in June 2011. It is a significant achievement for Samanta as well as the state of Odisha as a whole.

Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore Samman for KIIT & KISS Founder

On the occasion of the 150th birth anniversary of poet and Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore, Dr. A. Samanta, Founder, KIIT & KISS was awarded the prestigious Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore Samman. The award ceremony took place in New Delhi on May 7 on 150th birthday of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore. This award was presented to Dr. Samanta in recognition of his outstanding services, achievements and contributions.

Rajdhani Gaurav Samman 2011 Conferred on Dr. A. Samanta

The Rajdhani Gaurav Samman 2011 was conferred on Dr. A. Samanta, Founder, KIIT & KISS on the occasion of the 63rd Foundation Day of Bhubaneswar, the capital city of Odisha at Jaydev Bhawan, Bhubaneswar on 14th April 2011. Shri Pradip Kumar Amat, Hon’ble Speaker, Odisha Legislative Assembly presented the award.

Second Term for Dr. Achyuta Samanta, Founder, KIIT & KISS in UGC

Dr. Achyuta Samanta, Founder, KIIT & KISS has been re-appointed as a Commission Member of the University Grants Commission (UGC) for a term of three years. Being the first Odia in the Commission of the UGC, Achyuta Samanta's appointment has been hailed by academicians throughout the state.

 Dr. Samanta was first appointed a Commission Member of UGC in 2008. Shri Kapil Sibal, Hon’ble Union Minister of Human Resource Development re-appointed him before the end of his term in February 2011. A Gazette Notification to this effect has been issued on 25th February 2011 by the Ministry of HRD.

 His contributions and his active participation in formulation of different policies earned him the distinction of being the first choice of the Ministry of HRD for the consideration of an extension of his term at a time when the private education providers in all over the country are under the scanner of the Ministry. It is a significant achievement for Samanta as well as the state of Odisha as a whole.

Dr. Samanta has also been included in a 9-member Round Table constituted by the Ministry of HRD during January last for the development of education of the downtrodden children in the society. It is a matter of prestige and pride for the state of Odisha.

Dr. Samanta is expected to continue providing his expertise and views for the growth of higher education in India. Presently, Dr. Samanta has been member of several other national and international bodies including AICTE; Coir Board of India; CAPART; Forest Right Act Committee of the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Tribal Affairs, Government of India; National Executive Council of ISTE, Government of India; Academic Councils of the Central University, Odisha, Assam Central University, Silchar; Chairman - Advisory Committee of Nehru Gram Bharati Viswavidyalaya, Allahabad; Chairman - Advisory Committee of Padmashree Dr. D Y Patil University, Navi Mumbai; Chairman Advisory Committee of Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Sciences University, Nagpur besides being Member of IIE, New York; UMAP, Thailand; AUAP, IAUP and Asia Economic Forum.

 Academicians and intellectuals from all over the state and outside have expressed their satisfaction over the appointment of Samanta into the UGC body for one more term. It is a matter of pride for Odisha, they opined.

 Reacting to the notification from the Ministry of HRD re-appointing him for the second term in the UGC, Dr. Samanta thanked the Minister of HRD, Shri Kapil Sibal for reposing faith on him and giving credence to the work he did in his first stint. He will continue to work in a constructive way for the development of higher education in the country in general and in Odisha in particular, he said.

The Times of India Odisha Icon 2011 Awards (Social Service) conferred on Dr. A. Samanta, Founder, KIIT & KISS.

Hon’ble MP (Rajya Sabha) Shri Pyarimohan Mohapatra on Saturday gave away The Times of India Odisha Icon 2011 Awards to 16 personalities at a glittering function held in Bhubaneswar. Each category had a popular choice and a jury's choice awards. Cine Artist Jharana Das was the Guest of Honour. The recipients were Anubhav Mohanty,  Baladev Maharatha (art and culture); Harihar Das, Binash Kumar & Group (live Entertainment); Charchit Mishra, Subhrakant Panda (family business); Kiran Manisha Mahanty, Pratima Puhan & Pramila Prava Minz (sports); Achyuta Samanta (social service); Navin Kandol, Ayaskanta Mohanty (entrepreneur); Rakshyaka Nayak and Akshaya Behere (Literature) and Dr. Bidyut Dash, Ramesh Swain (professionals). The award was supported by NM Group Institutions Assotech, MBC TV, Red FM, Samaya, Mindfire Solutions and OEU.

Achyuta Samanta Nominated as Member of Asia Economic Forum

Achyuta Samanta, Founder of KIIT & KISS has been nominated as a Member of Asia Economic Forum (AEF), an independent think tank that acts as a forum for promoting policy dialogue on major issues facing Asia at present and aims at bringing together important policy makers in various fields. It is for the first time that an Indian and an Odiya has been selected as a Member of AEF. Samanta's social commitments through KISS- the largest free residential institute for 12,000 poorest of the poor tribal children-weighed in favour of him getting selected for becoming a Member of AEF, which has set its goal to promote sustainable development that includes human development, economic progress and environmental sustainability in Asia at the time of increasing globalization and growing regionalization in the world today. The other members of AEF are various renowned policy makers from Singapore, Cambodia and Indonesia.
Expressing his happiness over such a rare honour, Samanta candidly said that in this forum, he would raise important issues among Asian leaders to work for eradication of poverty and for the economic development of the region. He would contribute towards education, health and overall development of the under-privileged of Asia, he added.

Dr. Achyuta Samanta Appointed Gandhi Global Family National Secretary
Odisha State Core Committee Constituted

Core Committee of Gandhi Global Family (GGF) for Odisha State has been constituted under the leadership of Dr. Achyuta Samanta, Founder, KIIT & KISS. He was recently appointed National Secretary in charge of five eastern states-Odisha, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and West Bengal. GGF is a global organization dedicated to the cause of Gandhian value and spreading the message of Gandhi.

GGF decided to appoint Dr. Samanta as National Secretary for eastern zone after a thorough verification of his background and activities. Senior office bearers of GGF also visited KIIT & KISS as a part of the process. The organization has entrusted him to appoint coordinators and constitute Core Committees in the five eastern states.       

The members of Core Committee for Odisha State are Shri Dillip Shrichandan, State Coordinator, GGF; Shri Surjya Mohanty, Odisha State Head, Wipro; Dr. Bimalendu Mohanty; Shri Surendra Das; Shri Priyadarshi Mishra; Padmashree Dr. Tulasi Munda; Shri Pradosh Pattnaik, noted columnist; Shri Sasanka Chudamani; Shri Dillip Hali, Secretary, Odisha Cine Critic Association; Shri Rabi Behera and Shri Chinmaya Sundar Das. Core committee for remaining four states would be constituted soon.
 
The first meeting of the Odisha State Core Committee was held at KISS campus on 22nd September, 2010 in which the members decided on programme to disseminate the message of Mahatma Gandhi among youths in the schools and colleges of the above five states. The committee also decided on activities to be undertaken on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti. The Regional Office of GGF will function from N/1-290, IRC Village, Nayapalli, Bhubaneswar.

Swami Vivekananda National Award for KIIT & KISS Founder

Dr. A. Samanta, Founder, KIIT & KISS was honoured with Swami Vivekananda National Award by the Department of Youth Services and Sports, Govt. of Karnataka on 21st September 2010. He was conferred the award for immense contribution towards providing free education, vocational training, residence and all basic necessities of life to 12,000 underprivileged tribal boys and girls through Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS).

Dr. Samanta was felicitated in a Youth Seminar conducted by Joint Co-ordination of Zilla Panchayat, Youth Service and Sports Department & State Youth Awarders Federation in Bijapur, Karnataka in the presence of Dr. D. C. Rajappa, IPS, Bijapur Superintendent of Police, Shri Arun Shahapur, Hon’ble Member of Legislative Council, Shri Punith Pradhan, National Youth Awardee, Shri R. B. Upase, Assistant Director, Youth Services & Sports Department, Govt. of Karnataka and Shri P. C. Rayulu, social worker from Andhra Pradesh.

Dr. Samanta has received wide recognition at national and international levels for establishing KIIT, a centre of excellence in professional education, and Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS), a path-breaking model of tribal empowerment through education.

He is also a member of UGC, AICTE and many other apex policy making bodies of Government of India.

Korean University Confers Hon. Doctorate on KIIT Founder

Hanseo University, South Korea has conferred the Honorary Doctorate Degree on Dr. A. Samanta, Founder, KIIT & KISS. Hanseo University is world famous in the field of aviation training.

Dr. Samanta was conferred this honour for integrating quality education with human values and social service. KIIT has established itself as a centre of excellence in professional education, while KISS is the biggest tribal residential institute in the world. Dr. Ki Sun Ham, Founder and Chairman of Hanseo University presented the Degree to Dr. Samanta at the Convocation Ceremony of the University on 15th July 2010. Mr. S. R. Tayal, His Excellency the Indian Ambassador to Korea graced the ceremony as the Chief Guest.

An agreement was also signed in the presence of His Excellency the Ambassador on ‘Indo-Korean Centre for Excellence’. As per the agreement, 150-200 Korean students will visit KIIT and KISS every quarter for learning English and Odissi dance. This way, about 500 Korean students will visit KIIT and KISS every year.

Hanseo University came into contact with KIIT after learning about qualitative professional education at KIIT and social purpose of KISS. Many top officials of Hanseo University, including Dr. Ham, have visited KIIT & KISS. A MoU was also signed, providing for student exchange between the two universities. Dr. A. Samanta, Founder, KIIT Group of Institutions expressed his gratitude to Hon'ble Ambassador Mr. S. R. Tayal for his initiatives in bringing the two universities closer.

Samanta Made a Member of Central Forest Right Committee

In yet another important committee formed by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) in association with the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India, Dr. Achyuta Samanta, Founder, KISS & KIIT has been made the only member from the state of Odisha. The Ministry of Environment and Forest notification dated the 11th April 2010, while informing the reconstitution of all important 19 member committee, clearly states that the committee shall study in details the implementation of Forest Rights Act-2006 including the factors aiding and impeding its implementation and recommend necessary policy change in the future management of the forestry sector, besides other issues like identifying opportunity for the tribals, programmes for Forest Rights by stakeholders, etc. Samanta will hold the office for a tenure of three years initially.

Expressing his happiness over his inclusion in the most important committee constituted by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Govt. of India, Samanta said that he will contribute towards the policy and programmes keeping the interest of the state and its tribal population at the fore.

Meanwhile, Samanta has been nominated as the President’s Nominee to the Academic Council of the Assam Central University. In recognition to his contribution in the field of education, the President of India has bestowed this rare honour on him, informs a communication from the Ministry of HRD, Government of India.

‘Young EDGE-2010’ Award for Dr. Samanta

The prestigious ‘Young EDGE Award’ for the year 2010 has been conferred on Dr. A. Samanta. He received the award at a glittering ceremony organized at India Habitat Center, New Delhi on 4th March 2010 from Shri Kapil Sibal, Hon’ble Union Minister for HRD, in the presence of distinguished academicians, education policy makers, planners and national and international jury members of the EDGE forum.

The award is in recognition to his commitment to inclusive growth in the field of education and efforts to provide education to the educationally deprived section. He not only transformed a small ITI into a world-class KIIT University, but also established Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS), a residential tribal institute for 10000 students. The Selection Committee held Dr. Samanta’s experiments in education as unique and felt that, if replicated, it can address some of the core issues faced by the country in the field of education.

This year’s EDGE Personality of the Year Award 2010 was conferred on Prof. Yash Pal for his significant contribution in the field of education over many decades and the Yash Pal Committee Report to bring significant change in Indian education.

Emerging Direction in Global Education (EDGE) has been bringing policy makers, industries and educationalist from India and abroad together to address issues pertaining to excellence in global education. Every year this forum awards outstanding personalities for their contributions in the field of education.

With this award, Dr. Samanta has joined the league with the previous recipients, who include Mr. Sam Pitroda and Mr. Montek Singh Ahluwalia.

In yet another time, the humility of Dr. Achyuta Samanta has been recognized both at National and International forums. His dream for an equitable world through the creation of Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) has been shortlisted for the coveted 'India Business Award 2009' for Corporate Social Responsibility. Dr. Samanta is locking horns with two giants of Indian corporate sector - Tata Steel, the flagship of the Tata Group, and the Hindustan Unilever Ltd - for the Award scheduled to be announced on September 17 in Mumbai at a gala function to be covered live worldwide through CNBC.

While Business India has taken note of Dr. Samanta’s genius and his social concerns, the international community working for the innovations in the field of education has shortlisted Dr. Samanta to be a Laureate for World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE) 2009. WISE, the global event to create a new multi-disciplinary international platform to shape education models in the 21st Century, is being supported by the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU), Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF), International Association of University Presidents (IAUP), U.K, Institute of International Education (IIE), New York and RAND Corporate.

The selection through a rigorous scrutiny of hundreds of entries in three different categories zeroed down to just 16 in the innovation category. Dr. Samanta has been the only Indian to find a berth in the finalists from Africa, Asia and Oceania, Middle East, Europe, North America, South and Latin America. In the toughest competition for the WISE Laureate, Dr. Samanta is pitted against illustrious competitors from USA, UK, Brazil, South Africa and Cameroon.

The International Jury in the innovation category to select two laureates for the WISE-2009 Award comprises of the President of Beijing University, CEO of Richard Rose Federation and the Vice-President of Microsoft, USA.

As the only Indian to be shortlisted for this global award and the only Odia to be shortlisted for the coveted India Business Award-2009 definitely are matters of great importance and pride for the entire state. Dr. Samanta, however, dedicates these unique feats to the blessings of God and the love of the people of Odisha.

KIIT Founder Nominated as Member of IAUP

Dr. A. Samanta has been nominated as a member of the International Association of University Presidents (IAUP) in the capacity of the Founder of KIIT. The nomination is for a term of three years, as per the certificate of membership issued by IAUP, which is an Association of University Chief Executives from higher education institutions around the world. Dr. Samanta is the first person from Odisha to be nominated as a member.

The primary purpose of IAUP, founded in 1964 in Oxford, UK, is to strengthen the international mission and quality of education of the institutions in an increasingly interdependent world and to promote global awareness and competence as well as peace and international understanding through education. It is supported through cooperation with international organizations such as the United Nations, UNESCO, the World Bank and other international organization such as the European Commission and the International Association of Universities.

In another development, Ministry of Human Resources Development, Government of India has nominated Dr. Samanta as a member of the Academic Council of Central University of Odisha. Recently, he has also been nominated to the Executive Council of the Indian Red Cross Society, Odisha State Branch.

Dr. Samanta has expressed gratitude to the organizations for nominating him and promised to discharge responsibilities associated with the office diligently.