The rural management education in the country is yet to take off in a big way even though a majority of population in the country lives in rural areas. Therefore, it is not surprising that many problems of rural economy have remained unresolved even after nearly 60 years of independence. Kalinga School of Rural Management (KSRM), latest from the stables of Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) will make a new and determined beginning in this direction. It will be driven by the vision of father of white revolution, Padmabibhusan Dr. Verghese Kurien and pack the punch of quality from KIIT.

Foundation of this proposed centre of excellence in the field of rural management within KIIT Deemed University was laid by Dr. Kurien, Chancellor of Allahabad Central University on 20th November, 2006, in presence of Shri Biswabhusan Harichandan, Hon'ble Minister of Industries and Law, Odisha and Shri Surendra Nath Nayak, Hon'ble Minister of Agriculture.

"With the setting up of the KSRM, my wish is fulfilled", said Dr. Kurien, who had cherished a dream to establish the second Institute of Rural Management in Odisha on the model of well-known IRMA, after laying the foundation stone. It may be pertinent to mention here that at one time there were long parleys for this between him and the Government of Odisha, and it looked as if it was imminent. However, the same did not materialize due to one reason or the other. Therefore, this venture of KIIT can also be said as 'a dream come true' for this octogenarian visionary.

Recalling the nationalistic vision that people could not become really free until the tools of development are placed in their hands, he stressed that rural institutions are an important way to address the problems. Terming KSRM a step in the right direction, he said there is an immediate need for more institutions like IRMA and KSRM, particularly in the backward regions, to meet the ever growing demand for rural managers.

Under leadership of its Director, Prof. L. K. Vaswani and Dean, Prof. H. Panda, KSRM will offer two-year programme in Rural Management. The institute, which will focus on teaching, training, research and consultancy, will soon have ten noted professors from institutes of repute within the country joining its ranks. Dr. Kurien will continue to guide this upcoming institute at all stages.

Interface with industry, banks and non government organizations are being established to facilitate experiential training and placements. Going by the placement record in other courses of KIIT Deemed University, cent percent placement for students of KSRM is a foregone conclusion.

Dr. A. Samanta, Chancellor, KIIT Deemed University, upbeat about the developments, remarked it is a boon for the underprivileged people of the country. He felt that the eastern region of the country, in general, and Odisha in particular, will immensely gain from the establishment of KSRM.

Formal education of tribal children serves limited purpose as it does not significantly improve employment prospects. Which is why Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences, the largest tribal school in the country, has set up five vocational training centers to supplement formal education of tribal children studying here and enhance their employment or self-employment chances.

The Vocational Training Centres were inaugurated here on Sunday by Dr. Maxine Olson, UN Resident Coordinator & UNDP Resident Representative (India Head) in presence of Hon'ble Minister, SC & ST, Odisha and Secretary, School and Mass Education, Government of Odisha.

Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences is a home for 3000 tribal children availing free of cost living and education from primary to +2 Science level. It is promoted by Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology and is the finest expression of social commitment of this very successful educational conglomerate.

With the inauguration of vocational training centers, tribal students will have the choice to pursue any one of vocational trade along with their formal education. Presently, center will have training facilities in five vocational trades; namely, composite farming, pisciculture, animal husbandry, arts and crafts, and tailoring. Qualified and experiences trainers have been attached to each center. It will be compulsory for each student to undergo training in any one of the vocational trade of his choice. It is expected that self-employment and employment prospects of tribal students will be greatly enhanced after undergoing training here.

KISS has carefully evolved an effective perspective and strategy of empowerment of tribals through education and supplemental vocational training is an essential part of that strategy, said Dr. A. Samanta, Founder of KISS.

KISS Tribal Students Do it Again, to Represent Odisha at NCSC

"Scientific Way of Preservation and Utilization of Feeds and Fodders", the topic of the project presented by KISS Team led by Manoj Kumar Marandi, bagged the Chancellor's Award for Best Project and was highly acclaimed at the state level meet at St. Joseph's High School in Bhubaneswar. The students of KISS pipped several well-known and reputed schools from all over the state on its way to the national level meet at Gangtok. Earlier, the team was short-listed to participate at the state level following an inspired performance at the Zonal Level held at BJEM School.

The team won a flurry of accolades including Best Poster Award for the poster entitled 'Only Earth Support Life' by Karunakar Hembram, a student of KISS, and Best Chart Award for the chart entitled 'Agriculture in Rural Forum and its Diversity in Agricultural Benefits and Social and Economical Development'.

This is not the first time that tribal students from this school have made the state proud. Last year Manoj Kumar Garada, a student of KISS, had topped the state-level NCSC meet. He went on to participate at Indian Science Congress in Hyderabad and received appreciations from non other than Dr. Manmohan Singh, Hon'ble Prime Minister of India. Another team from the school participated in National Children's Science Congress held at Bhubaneswar in December 2005.

Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences is a unique initiative of Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, which provides free of cost education, living and vocational training to 3000 tribal students from 26 districts of the state. The school, at present offering education from primary to +2 Science level, is the largest of its kind in the country.

Expressing happiness at the achievement, Dr. A. Samanta, Founder of KISS, said success of our students is a testimony to the fact that with little support and guidance the tribal children can join the mainstream of the society and effectively compete with even students of the best schools.

Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) Deemed University has been making waves and this time for its students, who are to make the entire state proud for their achievements. It has been a routine feat for KIIT to secure hundred percent placement for its students through campus selections, but never before the students of this prestigious institution have made into the MNC blue chip giant Microsoft Inc.

In an unprecedented achievement, eight students, 3 girls and 5 boys of 2007 pass out batch from various streams of B. Tech have been selected by the Microsoft to join the company. Microsoft personnels making round the country's premier institutions for hunting the talents to join them, were ecstatic finding the fountain of talent in KIIT. Microsoft, the major company which had brought revolution in the IT Sector has been choosy in recruiting technical personnels from all over the world. The company visits only a few institutions and on an average selects only 70 to 80 students annually from the country, hence the selection of 8 young technocrats in its first ever campus selection at KIIT on November 10 last, is no mean achievement for a young Deemed University like KIIT.

The quality of students is outstanding, so also the state of the art and aesthetically designed institution that trains them. It is definitely at par with the best in the world, said the Microsoft Officials who conducted the rigorous Campus Selection conforming to their company's parameter. The students who were assured of their berths in Microsoft with an annual pay pack varying from 8.5 to 9 lakhs at the entry level, have all praises for their teachers and the relentless effort of their chancellor, Dr. A. Samanta in seeing their future secured through campus selection.

It is just the beginning of the Journey by the MNCS to find talents in KIIT, for at least another four more MNCS as big as Microsoft with salary range 9 to 10 lacks have confirmed to come for campus selection to KIIT in a fortnight.

It is not out of place here to mention that 500 students of B.Tech and MCA streams from 2007 pass out have already been selected for jobs by the Giant corporate houses through campus placement. The remaining 100 students will definitely be selected by other major companies visiting the campus shortly. We are happy that our students prove themselves to be the best and with the blessings of God they will continue to excel in their respective field, said Dr. Samanta, Chancellor KIIT DU While congratulating the students for their unprecedented achievement.

Second Convocation ceremony of 2006 pass out batch of Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, Deemed University, Bhubaneswar was held at Kathajodi Campus of the University here on Friday (13th October, 2006). Convocation Address was delivered by the Chief Guest of the occasion, Dr. Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, His Excellency The Vice President of India in august presence of Shri. Naveen Patnaik, Hon'ble Chief Minister of Odisha, Shri. D. H. Shankaramurthy, Hon'ble Minister of Higher Education of Karnataka and Dr. A. Samanta, Chancellor of KIIT Deemed University. Shri. Rameshwar Thakur, His Excellency The Governor of Odisha presided over the ceremony. A total of 986 graduates received the coveted degrees in technology and management in the second convocation. Gold and silver medals were awarded to 19 outstanding performers from different streams.

"India occupies the third rank in the world in terms of technically trained manpower", he informed in his Convocation Address, while praising the role of technical institutes of the country for this achievement. Just achieving a high growth rate is not good enough; elimination of economic and social imbalances from the society is a prerequisite to achieve the holistic development, Dr. Shekhawat reminded the students. It is unfortunate that despite being endowed with ample mineral wealth, Odisha is languishing in poverty; he observed and asked the young educated mass to rise up and remove this irony. He termed KIIT Deemed University as a qualitative institution of global standard and congratulated its Chancellor, management, faculty, staff and students for achieving success in such as short span of time.

Development in the field of education is a reflection of general development of the society, said Shri Rameshwar Thakur, His Excellency The Governor of Odisha in his Presidential Address. Shri Naveen Patnaik, Hon'ble Chief Minister of Odisha in his address stressed that commitment of technically trained youths is highly important to bring about fast industrial and economic development. Hon'ble Minister of Higher Education, Karnataka, Shri D. H. Sankaramurthy hoped that technically trained young mass will play a vital role in nation building.

In his address, Chancellor, KIIT Deemed University informed about the initiative of KIIT in bringing 3000 tribal children into mainstream by providing them free of cost higher education. Degrees would mean nothing unless the knowledge received is utilised for the benefit of the people living in the lowest strata of the society, he told the graduating students. Vice Chancellor, Prof. S. C. De Sarkar narrated the success of the university in different fields in the Vice Chancellor's Report.

Graduates passed out in July 2006 received the coveted degree in technology and management in the second convocation. Gold and silver medals were awarded to 19 outstanding performers from different streams. While Anshuman Samal (MBA) and Chinmayee Nayak (MBA-BIM) received Chancellor's Gold Medal for securing the highest CGPA, Subhranshu Ku Patnaik (MBA-BIM) bagged Vice Chancellor's Gold Medal for best all round performance. P. K. Bal Memorial Gold Medal was awarded to Kavita Kumari (MBA). Madhumita Bhattacharjee (MBA) received the PPL Gold Medal. Similarly, Supriya Kumar (BTech), Rachana Labh (MCA) and Srinivas Raju Indukuri (MTech) from the School of Technology received Chancellor's Gold Medal for securing the highest CGPA.