Pro Vice Chancellor (Admn) & Registrar, KIIT University conferred Life Time Achievement Award

Dr. A. K. Jha, Pro Vice Chancellor (Admn) & Registrar, KIIT University has been conferred with the Life Time Achievement Award in the field of Education & Administration by the Indian Society of Creative Arts given by His Excellency The Governor of Bihar on 7th October 2009.  

AIU Membership for KIIT

KIIT University has been inducted as a member of the Association of Indian Universities (AIU). Established in 1973, country’s accredited and full-fledged universities are members of this prestigious inter-university organization. These include traditional universities, open universities, professional universities, institutes of national importance and deemed-to-be-universities.      

KIIT, which was declared a university under section 3 of UGC Act 1956 in 2004, drew attention of AIU due to its excellence in professional education, research and training. AIU selected KIIT for membership after reviewing the works and achievements of KIIT University. AIU membership will result in global acceptance of the degrees of KIIT University and facilitate student and faculty exchange programme at international level. 

Dr. A. Samanta, Founder, KIIT & KISS has expressed his gratitude to the AIU officials for inducting KIIT in this prestigious umbrella organisation. It is a great achievement for KIIT to occupy a position among many old and reputed universities, said intellectuals.

54th IOACON Inaugurated at KIIT

The 54th Annual Conference of Indian Orthopaedic Association (IOACON 2009) was inaugurated by Shri Naveen Patnaik, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Odisha in the presence of Dr. A. Samanta, Founder, KIIT Group of Institutions and Prof. K. Balaveera Reddy, Pro Chancellor, KIIT at KIIT University on 24th November, 2009 and other important dignitaries. Odisha is hosting this prestigious conference after a gap of 23 years, last time it was held in 1986 at Cuttack.   

Hon’ble Chief Minister, Odisha, Shri Naveen Patnaik expressed his sincere gratitude to the Indian Orthopaedic Association for choosing the State of Odisha for this reputed conference. This conference provides a platform for the young orthopedic surgeons to exchange scientific information and discuss the emerging issues. It will contribute to the current knowledge of the practicing surgeons, he said, adding that it will benefit a lot of people from across the country. He lauded the conference theme - 'Disability Free Society', stating that it is an important priority of our time. He also expressed his appreciations for Dr. Samanta, Founder, KIIT and KISS for hosting this mega event.

Welcoming the guests and delegates, Dr. Samanta said it is a matter of pride for KIIT to host a conference of this stature. He expressed confidence that the conference will be a grand success, adding that KIIT has made all arrangements to ensure this. The Conference will help create world wide awareness on its chosen theme, said Dr. Samanta.

The central theme of this year’s conference, which will conclude on 29th November, is ‘Disability Free Society’. Dimensions of physical disability in India have been well recognized. Developmental defects, nutritional and metabolic diseases, infection of bone and joints and bone tumors have emerged as major problems. Manmade disasters such as road accidents and poly trauma pose a serious threat for life and limbs in young persons and earning members of the family. Further, geriatric population needs special care for the degenerative joint disorder. These issues and challenges form the backdrop of 54th Annual Conference of Indian Orthopaedic Association (IOACON 2009).

 About 5000 delegates of national and international repute including presidents of Orthopaedic Association of Australia, U. K., USA, Germany, Italy, Sri Lanka, Dubai, etc are participating in this conference. Experienced and skilled surgeons will demonstrate modern techniques of high tech surgery in 12 workshops in different medical colleges. The conference also features exhibits on new molecules, implants, instruments, diagnostic aids, orthotics and prosthetics by 42 pharmaceutical and 18 surgical manufactures.

This conference is one of the largest gathering of medical professionals and experts in the field of orthopedics. It is likely to benefit medical professionals in Odisha with knowledge sharing on the latest advancements to alleviate the suffering. This event is also uniquely poised to present the opportunity of rediscovering Odisha and redefining its rich cultural heritage.

KISS Senior Rugby Team to Play in Suburbs Rugby World Festival 2009, Marseille, France

Senior Rugby team of Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) will play a series of matches with leading Rugby teams in France. The team is visiting France following a joint invitation from France Rugbycite and Marseille Vitrolles Rugby. It will compete with Countries like France, England, Argentina, South Africa etc. During its seven days visit, the team will play on 26th and 27th November, according to the VII Rugby rules. According to the sources, all the accommodation, catering and flight fees will be borne by France Rugbycite and Marseille Vitrolles Rugby. KISS Rugby squad, comprising of 10 tribal students, is scheduled to leave for France on 21st November 2009.

Significantly, KISS Rugby team has drawn attention of Rugby organizations from all over the world after it won the U-14 Rugby World Cup played in London in September 2007. Subsequently, the team has played invitational matches in UK and Australia. All the members of the visiting squad are tribals coming from different backward regions of the State of Odisha. Members of the squad are Nishikanta Hembram, Basu Hembram, Sankha Hembram, Krishna Tudu, Harish Baskey, Bhagabata Murmu, Kanhu Charan Hembram, Rajesh Kumar Barla, Muna Murmu, Bhanja Sundhi. Brain Wolf, the Coach of KISS Rugby Team and Roshan Xaxa, Manager also will also accompany the team members.

Visit of KISS Rugby team to France is a matter of great pride for the tribal community, KISS and Odisha as well, said Dr. A. Samanta, Founder, KISS & KIIT. He wished the team best of luck and expressed confidence that the players will once again make their country proud by their performance.

KISS Draws Attention of US Government and World

Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS), the biggest residential tribal institute in the South Asia, has now attracted the attention of US Government and United Nations (UN). Both – US Government and UN – have selected KISS to implement innovative projects, which have high potential of replicability across the country.          

Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) has been selected by the US Government as an educational service provider in India for the English Access Microscholarship Programme - an initiative of the United States Embassy in New Delhi and the United States Department of State. The programme for KISS - the first ever by American Government for any tribal institute in India - was officially communicated by Mr. Michael Pelletier, Acting Public Affairs Officer, US Embassy, New Delhi recently. The English Access Microscholarship Programme, know as Access Programme in short, will make the study of English more easy and accessible to the economically deprived tribal students of KISS.

Under the programme, Ambassador of US to India will facilitate English language study to 100 tribal students between 14 to 18 years of age at KISS for a period of two years, beginning December 1, 2009. The selection of the participants will be done on the basis of the income of the parents and their English profiency. Lessons will be imparted by Full Bright scholars, US Embassy employees, Peace Corp volunteers and English Language Fellows using modern methods like Computer-aided Language Learning (CALL), multimedia and face-to-face interaction.

The Access Programme will help tribal students of KISS develop integrated personalities and sense of responsibility and work culture. It will inculcate confidence among the socio-economically deprived students to face challenges and growing demand of the job market. After completion of the programme, tribal students will have opportunities to work in enterprises in India and abroad. The progress of the programme will be directly monitored by Washington DC. Graduation ceremony for the successful participants will be held at US Embassy in New Delhi. Entire scholarship for 100 tribal students under the programme will be borne by US Embassy.

In another development, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has partnered with KISS for a project to overcome knowledge and skills deficit for life skills education in the state. This is the first project of its type of UNFPA in South East Asia and the biggest project of UNFPA for Odisha state. The project will address tribal adolescents who are highly vulnerable and have fewer opportunities to access information.

Under the project, Life Skills Education (LSE) Programme will be taken up among the students of KISS through co-curricular activities with the help of youth friendly counseling and health services. Efforts will be made to enhance research capabilities on issues related to Adolescent Reproductive and Sexual Health (ARSH) and LSE. Under the partnership UNFPA will have an office in the premises of KISS. The learning and experiences at KISS would be used to steer the process for initiating LSE in the tribal schools of the state through the SC & ST Development Department and School and Mass Education Department of Government of Odisha.         

The projects will be helpful for KISS to do a bit more for the deprived tribal population of the country, said Dr. A. Samanta, Founder, KISS and KIIT. It will definitely contribute to make it an institute, which will have relevance not only in India, but whole of world as a model for development of deprived and poor, he added.                                

IRRI DG Delivers 3rd Foundation Day Lecture of KSRM

The 3rd Foundation Day Lecture of KIIT School of Rural Management, a constituent of KIIT University, was delivered by Dr. Robert S. Zeigler, Director General, International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Manila on 20th November 2009. A MoU was also signed between Dr. Zeigler and Dr. A. Samanta, Founder, KIIT on behalf of IRRI and KIIT University respectively to promote collaborative research work in improving the rice production and marketing system in India and neighboring countries.  

India requires 2nd Green Revolution considering the 21st Century constraints like declining agricultural land, water availability, rising input prices and extreme weather, Dr. Zeigler said in his lecture entitled ‘Odisha and Other Eastern States in Midst of Global Rice Food Security’. The retail price of rice has nearly doubled in last one year in major Indian markets, he observed, while attributing this to slowdown in global rice yield growth after 2005. Productivity of rice in India is less than the world average, Dr. Zeigler said, while pointing out that the greatest potential in improving yield is in eastern India including Odisha where rice accounts for 70 per cent of the total cultivated area. “The food security in India nearly depends on what happens in Odisha and Eastern States”, he concluded.   

Partnership with KIIT will help in the vision of IRRI, Dr. Zeigler said referring to the MoU between two organizations. He congratulated Dr. Samanta for his rendering philanthropic service for the downtrodden class of the society through KISS.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Samanta, Founder of KIIT Group of Institutions said that food production in India is facing a major problem due to rapid urbanization and industrialization. He expressed confidence that MoU between KIIT and IRRI will bring new technologies to enhance food production. The partnership will also benefit students and researchers, he added.      

They also released ‘Kaleidoscope’, a KSRM Publication which contains applied research work done by KSRM students during 2007 - 09.
 
The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) is the world’s leading rice research and training center. Based in the Philippines and with offices in 10 other Asian countries, it is an autonomous, nonprofit institution focused on improving the well-being of present and future generations of rice farmers and consumers, particularly those with low incomes, while preserving natural resources. IRRI is one of 15 centers funded through the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), an association of public and private donor agencies.
 
Among others, Prof. S. C. De Sarkar, Vice Chancellor, KIIT, Prof. Faizan Mustafa, Advisor, KIIT Law School, other top officials of KIIT and a large number of students were present on the occasion. Later, KSRM students organized a cultural programme in honour of Dr. Zeigler.

32nd Sub-Junior National Volleyball Championship-09
Six KISS students in Odisha Girls Team

 The tribal students of Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS), a sister concern of KIIT, have yet again proved their class - this time in volleyball. Six students of KISS have made it to Odisha Team, which will participate in the 32nd Sub-Junior National Volleyball Championship-09 at Shimoga, Karnataka from 16th to 22nd November, 2009.
The players provisionally selected for this championship include Pramila Sisha (Paraja tribe), Lachhmi Khillo (Paraja tribe) and Jamuna Khillo (Paraja tribe) from Koraput District. Jhanshirani Baskey (Santal tribe), Suchitra Hibru (Ho tribe) and Manisha Pradhan (Kandha tribe) from Mayurbhanj, Jajpur and Kandhamal districts respectively have also been selected.
Dr. A. Samanta, Founder, KIIT Group of Institutions and KISS expressed his satisfaction over achievement KISS students in volleyball.

Election Commission accepts KIIT Law School Recommendation on Transgenders

KIIT Law School which was established two years ago has started playing a key role in the policy making of the country. In a historic move, on the recommendation of KIIT Law School, Election Commission has allowed transgenders and eunuchs to have the right to mention themselves as “others” in the gender box. Dr A. Samanta, Founder of KIIT & KISS has expressed his happiness on this major achievement of the KIIT Law School. He also congratulated the students and staff of the school and expressed the hope that  the school will soon become number one destination of legal education in the country. Dr Samanta also thanked Chief Election Commissioner of the country for recognising the role of KIIT Law School students in this new milestone of identity jurisprudence.

Mr. Navin B. Chawla, the present Chief Election Commissioner of India  had delivered an extension lecture at  KIIT Law School, KIIT University on "Electoral Reforms in India" on 13th of January 2009.  During the lecture, Mr. Chawla emphasized the need of achieving higher voting percentage and persuaded students to convince others to participate in the electoral process of the country. It was during this interactive session that Prerna Dhoop, Kanad Bagchi & Alimpan Chatterjee, second year law students of KIIT Law School, Bhubaneswar raised the issue of the right to self-identification of transgenders  and eunuchs. It was argued that  nothing is closer to the "heart of liberty" and "central to personal dignity " than an individual's chosen gender identity to be granted full legal rights and protection against discrimination even if you do not fall into one of two neat societal boxes labelled male or female. In response to the questions, Mr. Chawla assured the gathering present that he would look into the matter.

Inspired by such assurance the students of  KIIT Law School worked dedicatedly towards achieving the said rights for an already discriminated and  ostracized community. The three students subsequently met Mr. Chawla in his office in New Delhi on 29th of May, 2009 to further press their views. It was heartening to see Mr. Chawla  share their concern and had already initiated measures to redress such wrongs against a community.

The efforts of these three students alongwith  Mr. Chawla has borne fruit as the Election Commission after much deliberation has finally ascribed the 'other' identity to eunuchs and transsexuals on 12th of November 2009. This is a major development in the area of identity politics as now transsexuals can choose “others” as their identity and would no more be compelled  to choose between the two genders - male or female.

International Conference on “Advancement in Biomedical Research” held at KIIT
 An International Conference on “Advancement in Biomedical Research” was organised by KIIT School of Biotechnology here on 13th to 14th November, 2009. The two-day conference was inaugurated by Prof. C. S. Dey, NIPER, Chandigarh in presence of Dr. A. Samanta Founder, KIIT, Prof. Utpal Bhadra, CCMB, Hyderabad, Prof. W. D. Hardt, ETH, Zurich, Switzerland, Prof. S. C. De Sarkar, Vice Chancellor, KIIT and Dr. Mrutyunjay Saur, Director, KIIT School of Biotechnology.
 The aim of the conference is to create a forum to discuss the advancement in the field of biology and cancer and to bring together researchers, scientists, engineers, scholars and students to exchange and share their experiences, ideas and research results about all aspects of biomedical science and discuss the practical challenges in the field. 
 Welcoming the distinguished speakers coming from different parts of the world, Dr. Samanta said that visit of these luminaries is a welcome development for the State like Odisha. He expressed hope that the conference would provide researchers and academicians a unique opportunity to come together as well as foster a culture of inter-institutional team work.

 Speaking on the occasion, Prof. C. S. Dey said that the conference will promote understanding of the advancement in biomedical research in India and abroad. The main focus will be on human diseases, its understanding and development in its prevention and cure, he added, elaborating that this would bring in emerging technology and scientific ideas to this part of the world and India.

 The conference was attended by eminent speakers like Prof. S. N. Dalal, ACTREC, Mumbai, Prof. R. Shukla, CDRI, Lucknow, Prof. A. K. Ghosh, IIT Kharagpur, Prof. T. Das, Bose Institute, Kolkata, Dr. S. Mishra, ILS, Bhubaneswasr, Dr. A. Sonawane, KSBT, Bhubaneswar, Prof. Y. Singh, IGIB, New Delhi, Prof. G. S. Sa, Bose Institute, Kolkata, Prof. G. B. Maru, ACTREC, Mumbai and Prof. Yong-Sang Kim, Myongji University, South Korea. Among others, the officials of KIIT and a large number of students were present in the conference.

KISS Students Celebrate Children's Day with Jaya Prada

The students of Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) celebrated the Children's Day with celluloid personality Jaya Prada. It is a matter of pride to study in KISS, she told the tribal students of the institute. Refering to the philosophy, ideals and principles of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, she advised the students to make the best use of available resources and to become useful citizens of our country.

She was overwhelmed to see different parts of KISS campus, which is the largest tribal institute of the country. Complimenting the vision and tireless efforts of the Founder of KISS & KIIT, Dr. Achyuta Samanta, Jaya Prada expressed her pleasure on the excellent educational infrastructure created by KIIT in a state like Odisha. She also commended Dr. Samanta for his social concern. Earlier, Dr. Samanta expressed his sincere thanks and gratitude to Jaya Prada and said that KISS is proud to have a personality like her in the campus.

Several programmes were organized in KISS to celebrate the Children's Day. These included Fashion show and cultural programme. Among others, Social Activist Dr. G. N. Devi, Prof. Martin Hunter, Noted Legal Luminary, UK and his wife, renowned Social Activist Padmashri Tulasi Munda, Mrs. Saswati Bal, President of KISS, Prof. S. C. De Sarkar, Vice Chancellor, KIIT University and Dr. Prasanta Routaray, CEO of KISS and other top officials of KISS and KIIT attended the function.

KISS Felicitates Hanseo Varsity President
 
The KISS Humanitarian Award 2009 has been conferred on Dr. Ham Kee-Sun, President and Founder of Hanseo University. He received the award from Dr. A. Samanta, Founder, KISS and KIIT Group of Institutions at a ceremony organized at KIIT University here on 6th November, 2009.

Speaking at the presentation ceremony, Dr. Ham appreciated the objectives and activities of KISS, which is the largest tribal residential school in the country and provides free education, residence and all basic needs to 10000 tribal children. Infrastructure, aesthetics, educational ambience and student strength of KIIT match the international standard, he said, while congratulating Dr. Samanta for this noble initiative. This unique institution is an inspiration for successful organizations to take up their social responsibilities, he added.

He was conferred the award for his contribution for the cause of education and compassion demonstrated through humanitarian works. Dr. Ham is a plastic surgeon by profession and well-known in his country for humanitarian service. He provided free cleft lip and palate surgeries to nearly 2000 people referred by the Korean National Red Cross. Dr. Ham established Hanseo University in 1992.

Being young institutions, yet known for excellence in their respective countries, the two universities have a lot in common, observed Dr. A. Samanta. It is a great honour to felicitate a multifaceted personality like Dr. Ham, he added.
    
On a visit to KIIT, Dr. Ham is leading a high-level delegation of Hanseo University, South Korea consisting of Mrs. Han Seung-Hae, Director, Hanseo University Oriental Medical Hospital, Mr. Kim Won-Ho, Dean of External Affairs and Mr. Kim Seung-Jae, Dean of Student Affairs. The visiting delegation signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with KIIT University to operationalise cooperation between two universities in the fields of academics and students and faculty exchange programmes.