ENARADA, Bhubaneshwar, August 1, 2015
The Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) Bhubaneshwar, added another feather in its crowded plume as it was recently accorded ‘special consultative status’ by the United Nations.
The United Nation’s Economic and Social Council granted the special award to KISS after it was approved by all the representatives of member countries. A communication from UN headquarters to this effect was received by KISS on July 23, 2015.
View of the daily prayer at KISS campus, Bhubaneshwar. With this honour , KISS becomes one among the six NGO’s in the country and the first in Odisha to receive this rare honour. Photo courtesy: KISS
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This honour assumes great importance because the special consultative status comes with a horde of facilities and privileges similar to the one accorded to member countries of the UN. These privileges involve among other things collaboration on projects and participation in UN events.
The process of induction is similar to that of getting membership in the UN. The United Nations Economic and Social Council (UN-ECOSOC) granted the recognition to KISS after getting all the member countries on board. It was accorded the tag in a session of the UN General Assembly after the approval of secretary general Ban Ki-moon.
The process for getting this special status had begun way back in 2009 with the visionary founder of KISS Achytha Samata initiating the process.
The UN evaluated the activities, functioning and achievements of the institute for the period 2009-2012. After the observations, the member countries discussed the issue threadbare on various activities and were satisfied. Various committees set up for the purpose recommended giving this special status to the institute.
Finally the KISS authorities presented their case at the UN headquarters in New York in February 2014. Following a detailed discussion, all representatives of member countries gave their approval, except two countries that sought more information.
It took KISS founder Achyuta Samanta and his team another year to satisfy the queries raised by the two countries and finally the resolution to grant special consultative status was adopted unanimously by all member countries.
This recognition augurs well to KISS for its revolutionary pioneering efforts in providing free education to the tribals by providing them a level playing field in all aspects of life.
Kudos to KISS and its visionary leadership.
