The Delhi branch of Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS), a free residential institute for underprivileged children, will start functioning from this academic session. An MoU to this effect was signed on June 27, 2013 between Sh. Lalmalsawma, Principal Secretary, Welfare of SC/ST/OBC/Minorities, Govt. of Delhi and Shri R. N. Dash, Secretary, KISS in the august presence of Smt. Sheila Dikshit, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Delhi, Shri Raj Kumar Chauhan, Dr. (Smt.) Kiran Walia, Shri Haroon Yusuf, Shri Arvinder Singh Lovely, Hon’ble Cabinet Ministers of Govt. of Delhi, Shri Mahabal Mishra, Hon’ble MP, West Delhi, Mr. Bharat Singh, Hon’ble MLA, Najafgarh, Dr. A. Samanta, Founder, KIIT & KISS, Mr. Deepak Mohan Spolia, Chief Secretary, Govt. of Delhi and many other senior Govt. and KISS officials.

KISS-Delhi will start functioning from this academic session where 1200 children belonging to SC, ST, Minorities, orphans and other underprivileged sections of the society will be prepared to become useful citizens of the country, said Smt. Dikshit. She described the commissioning of school a revolutionary step in bringing the wards of the poorest sections at par with other sections of the society. The school will impart education as per CBSE syllabus and make every effort to bring them to the mainstream.

The KISS would maintain and operate the school at Issapur on no-profit no-loss basis. Delhi Government has allotted about 20 acres of land with 2 lakh sq. ft. built up area in Najafgarh under Delhi Municipality for this purpose. Smt. Dikshit, who has visited KISS, Bhubaneswar twice in recent years, lauded Dr. Samanta’s two decades of continuous efforts in creating this slice of heaven for the poor underprivileged tribal children where each one is given food, accommodation, health care and education from KG to PG absolutely fee. After seeing this unique institute in Bhubaneswar she had decided to set up its branch in Delhi.

All recurring and nonrecurring cost of the Delhi branch will be borne by Govt of NCT of Delhi, informed the Chief Secretary.

Expressing satisfaction over the cooperation and support extended by the Govt. of Delhi, Dr. Samanta said that this is an eye opener for other states. Establishment of the Delhi branch for 1200 students will provide visibility to the movement and social cause of this institute, he stated. It is a matter of pride for Odisha that a development model which started in the state is now being replicated in Delhi, he added.

A large number of people from Odia community in Delhi also joined the programme. They praised the effort of Dr. Samanta and KISS. Dr. Samanta and his team have shown the world that that empowerment of the underprivileged and their sustainable livelihood is possible through education, they said, adding that given scope these ‘children of lesser gods’ can outshine everyone.