Kalinga Institute Of Social Sciences Declared First Tribal University In World

Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) has been declared the first tribal university in the world. Though Indira Gandhi National Tribal University has been established before, it enrols students of all categories. On the other hand, KISS University is exclusively for tribal students.

The University will introduce seven new innovative departments including Department of Tribal Culture, Philosophy and Eco-Spiritualism, Indigenous Knowledge, Science and Technology; Comparative Tribal Linguistics & Literature, Tribal Heritage and Tribal Indology, Comparative Indic Studies and Tribal Science, Tribal Resource Management, and Tribal Legal Studies and Tribal Rights in the first phase to provide impetus to research on tribal studies and help KISS achieve a place of prominence in the tribal education and research in world. With this KISS University will work on Art, literature, culture, heritage and other aspects of Tribals across India and globe. Deemed University status has been granted with this hope. As before, students of KISS University will get residential education absolutely free of cost.

In addition to formal education from Class I to Postgraduate level, a wide range of vocational skill is imparted to the students. Besides implementing the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals in the true sense, KISS has been able to bring about much needed social changes in the tribal hinterland of Odisha and its neighbouring states by arresting the spread of Maoist and Naxalite insurgency. KISS, through its 37,000 students who come from as many families in different villages across the state, is indeed transforming tribal mindset and helping them join the mainstream society.

One branch of KISS has been set up since 2013 in Delhi in the name and style of KISS-Delhi and has been running with the help and support of Delhi Govt. for the poor children of Delhi territory. KISS is acclaimed as a successful model of human development and as a result, various State Governments are interested to start a branch of KISS in their respective States. Work is in progress to start two international branches in Bangladesh as well as branches in various districts of Odisha.  

With an aim to educate and empower 2,00,000 underprivileged children over the next decade, KISS is now in the process of setting up branches of KISS in 20 States of India with the support of the Govt. and Non-Govt. agencies. A branch of KISS will be set up in West Bengal soon.