ENARADA, Manila, November 26, 2014
Noted social entrepreneur and Founder of Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) and KIIT Group of Institutions Achyuta Samanta received the prestigious Gusi Peace Prize International for 2014 amidst a galaxy of luminaries, comprising of presidents, prime ministers, distinguished scientists, philanthropists and three thousand invited guests from all over the world, in Manila on November 26, 2014.
Samanta is the lone Indian among 15 laureates of this prestigious award this year, conferred by the Philippines-based awarding body Gusi Peace Prize International. He is only the third Indian ever and first from Odisha to be conferred the award, considered as ‘Asia’s Nobel Peace Prize’.
He was given the prize for “poverty alleviation through education and humanitarianism”. The citation recognizes his outstanding contribution in the field of education and for his humanitarian efforts to uplift the socially and economically marginalized children through education.
Achyuta Samanta (8th from left in the top row) and other Gusi award winners along with Chairman Barry Gusi, First lady Dr. Evelyn Gusi and other dignitaries, pose for a photograph after visiting the martyr’s monument, today in Manila, Philippines.
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Samanta has been relentlessly working for the uplift of poorest of the poor indigenous community in Odisha for the last two and a half decades. His passion to provide a level playing field to this most neglected section of the society led him to establish Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS), a free residential institute for 22,500 tribal children. He also founded KIIT, a group of professional institutes, to support this social enterprise.
KISS has received worldwide recognition as an effective model of empowerment of indigenous people through education. His model is now being replicated in many states of India as well as abroad. “KISS is plans to educate 2,00,000 underprivileged indigenous children within next 10 years”, said Samanta in his acceptance speech, while expressing gratitude to the awarding body for the honour.
This year’s nominees, besides Samanta, who received the prize are: Dr. Hans Koechler from AUSTRIA, Dr. Atiur Rahman from BANGLADESH, Dr. Manson Fok from CHINA, Prof. Virima Mudogo from CONGO, Hon. Dominique Hoppe from FRANCE, Prof. Gerhard Bringmann from GERMANY, Hon. Parviz Pargari from IRAN, Dr. Luigi Pellegrini from ITALY, Prof. Yoshinory Asakawa from JAPAN, Former President Vytautas Landsbergis from LITHUANIA, Hon. Bhojraj Pokharel from NEPAL, Sen. Cynthia a. Villar from PHILIPPINES, Dr. Kazimierz Glowniak from POLAND and Hon. Saad Nahar Al-Baddah Almutairi from KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA.
Gusi Peace Prize International is an international award given annually to some great individuals who have distinguished themselves as brilliant exemplars of society. The selection process for Gusi is both complex and rigorous. After a scrutiny and a process that continues for over a year, the jury members consisting of distinguished persons from all over the world agree on few members and the final decision is then taken by the Award committee having its annual session in USA. The list of awardees is duly approved by the Philippines Senate.
Earlier the day, the laureates laid wreaths at the Manila Memorials with the National Flags of the countries of the recipients fluttering high. In the glittering presentation ceremony, credentials were presented as the national anthem of the recipients’ countries played.
KIIT Alumni is excited about Samanta winning an international award.
