BHUBANESWAR: THE Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS), Bhubaneswar has figured in the list of top 500 NGOs across the world and has been chosen as one of the 10 best NGOs of India by NGO Advisor, a Geneva-based independent media organisation. The organisation is chaired by Jean-Christophe Nothias, former editor of The Global Journal.
KISS was selected out of thousands of NGOs for its outstanding impact, innovation and governance. NGO Advisor, which uses public data for transparency, scores organisations based on their performance in 165 criteria.
KISS, founded by eminent educational and social entrepreneur Dr Achyuta Samanta in 1993, is a successful model of tribal empowerment through education. At present, 25,000 children from poor socio-economic background are pursuing their education here from KG to post graduation, making it the largest free residential tribal institute in the world.
In 2015, it was granted Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council, the highest recognition to any NGO by the United Nations.
Dr Samanta said it will result in better visibility of the institute on a global platform and ultimately benefit its beneficiaries - the underprivileged children.