DR ACHYUTA SAMANTA, Founder of Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) and Kalinga Institute of Social Science (KISS), is a unique combination of educationist, philanthropist, and social entrepreneur. His mission is to create a level playing field for the most underprivileged tribals living beyond the borders of urban and rural civilization in India.
Born into abject poverty, Dr. Samanta set a personal goal to first educate himself, in the face of herculean economic challenges, before he embarked on his mission. As a result, his personal needs to this day are the minimal for survival. The cumulative 'tiger hills' in his life have created a very innovative human, who channelizes his energy for the betterment of a neglected segment of mankind. He is often referred to as the Madan Mohan Malaviya of Odisha.
In 1992, with a paltry sum of INR 5,000, against all odds, Dr. Samanta created an Industrial Training Institute (ITI) which eventually proliferated into a world-class state-of-the-art institution, KIIT. It provides direct and indirect employment to thousands of individuals in the vicinity. KIIT has had the distinction of hosting the Indian Science Congress.
In parallel, Dr. Samanta founded a small school in Bhubaneshwar for the indigenous aborigines dwelling in slums. This evolved into KISS. Today, it is the world's largest free residential tribal institute with 15,000 aborigine students.
Through the conglomeration of both his endeavors, Dr. Samanta has demonstrated in an articulate manner, a model for inclusive education, educational transformation, scientific fervor, and innovation driven by employability. A best practice.
We salute Dr. Achyuta Samanta, Qimpro Platinum Standard 2011 for Education.