Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology: A University of Compassion and Humanitarianism

The Institute’s founder, Dr Achyuta Samanta emphasises quality education as a means to eradicate poverty, viewing education as the third eye of a child that can lift families and future generations out of poverty. Through KIIT and the Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences, Dr Samanta has facilitated quality education for 80,000 tribal students, with 40,000 working in various sectors and the rest currently studying at different campuses

Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT), established in the Patia region of Bhubaneswar, is a sought-after educational institution recognised both nationally and internationally. KIIT has gained recognition as a world-class university. It has been placed among the top six most impactful universities globally and ranked first in India in terms of the Sustainable Development Goal of ‘Reduced Inequalities’ in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2024. KIIT fulfills all the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, earning this honour. This success is attributed to the vision and commitment to social responsibility demonstrated by KIIT and its founder, Dr Achyuta Samanta.

Student Body and Education Quality:

Over 40,000 students from India and abroad study at KIIT which is known for its excellent and value-based education across various professional and vocational fields. The university is acknowledged for its leading role in education and its commitment to social responsibility.

Founder and Vision:

Dr Samanta, the esteemed educationist and social reformer, founded KIIT in 1992. Over the last three decades, the institution has evolved into a prominent global university known for its high standards of education, earning the respect of students and parents alike.

Dr Samanta emphasises quality education as a means to eradicate poverty, viewing education as the third eye of a child that can lift families and future generations out of poverty. Through KIIT and the Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS), Dr Samanta has facilitated quality education for 80,000 tribal students, with 40,000 already working in various sectors and the rest currently studying at different campuses.

Healthcare:

The Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) is a trusted medical college and hospital in Eastern India, offering advanced healthcare facilities at affordable rates in its 2,600-bed super-specialty facility. KIMS provided extensive healthcare services during the Covid-19 pandemic through four Covid hospitals.

Local Development:

KIIT has significantly contributed to the development of Bhubaneswar, from the Damana to Nandankanan stretch, creating numerous employment opportunities and fostering economic growth. It has provided direct employment opportunities to over 500 local youths in KIIT, KISS, and KIMS, and indirect employment to many more through various commercial and educational initiatives. KIIT has supported local schools, colleges, and spiritual centres and has been involved in the construction and maintenance of over 50 temples in the state. The institution has created over 15,000 permanent and 5,000 temporary jobs in the area.

Tourism:

KIIT and KISS attract over one lakh tourists annually from India and abroad. KIIT hosts numerous national and international conferences, workshops, and seminars throughout the year, bringing many visitors and boosting local businesses such as hotels and transportation.

Women Empowerment:

KIIT and KISS prioritise women’s empowerment through programmes like Kanya Kiran, Kalinga Fellowship, and KIIT Nanhipari, addressing family violence against girls and promoting women’s rights. These initiatives are conducted in all districts of Odisha as well as nationally.

Sports:

KIIT and KISS have made significant contributions to the field of sports. They are the only universities in India with world-class and extensive sports infrastructure. Throughout the year, various national and international sports competitions are held in different stadiums, named after renowned national and international athletes. With modern sports facilities and high-quality training, KIIT and KISS have produced over 5,000 regional, national, and international athletes, including 15 Olympians. Due to the efforts of Dr Samanta, KIIT and KISS have greatly contributed to the development of school-level and rural sports in the state.

The sporting infrastructure includes the Biju Patnaik Multi-Utility Indoor Stadium, KIIT Cricket Stadium, Dilip Tirkey Hockey Stadium, Abhinav Bindra Indoor Shooting Range, Rahul Bose Rugby Stadium, Debashish and Shiv Sundar Stand, Viswanathan Anand International Chess Hall, Leander Paes Tennis Stadium, Dutee Chand Athletics Stadium, Amiya Mallick Athletics Stand, Sravani Nanda Stand, Minati Mohapatra Cycling Velodrome, Pramod Bhagat Badminton Indoor Hall, and Shraddhanjali Samantaray Football Stadium, among others.

The Biju Patnaik Indoor Stadium began on a small scale but has since become one of the largest indoor stadiums in India. It’s noteworthy that KIIT is the first in India to name so many stadiums after eminent athletes. The extensive and modern international-level sports facilities, along with accommodations, meals, health, gym, and swimming pool amenities, make the sports complex highly acclaimed. Every year, various regional, national, and international sports competitions attract around one lakh to 1.50 lakh athletes, coaches, and officials to KIIT.

Skill Education and Industrial Development Programme:

What started as a skill training centre has now evolved into a world-class university. Over one lakh young men and women have been trained here. Participating in the Government of India’s Skill India programme, KIIT has provided job-oriented training to about 5,000 unemployed youth. Currently, 64 types of job-oriented and advanced skill training programmes are offered. Additionally, KIIT offers training in advanced electronics, welding, quality management, and genome informatics, among 32 different modern skill programmes.

Dr Samanta has nurtured over 100 entrepreneurs, while more than 100 industries have emerged from KIIT-TBI. Awareness has also been raised among six lakh children. KISS, associated with all UN agencies, has met most of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Smart Village and Smart Panchayat:

One of the groundbreaking initiatives by KIIT is the Smart Village Kalarabanka and Smart Panchayat Manpur, the first of their kind in the country. Under the direct supervision of Dr Samanta, Kalarabanka village in the Manpur Panchayat of Cuttack district has transformed into a smart village. Developments over the past 15 years include a 100-bed primary healthcare centre, a residential high school, an English medium school, temples of Lord Raghunath and Sankat Mochan Hanuman, a bank, and a post office, along with street lighting, high-quality roads, proper waste management, and a large pond for the villagers’ use. A proposal for a +2 Science College has also been submitted.

Contributions in Other Areas:

KIIT and KISS have always emphasised the development of arts, literature, culture, architecture, cinema, and television, taking initiatives for their promotion. KIIT has significantly contributed to these fields. Through the efforts of Dr. Samanta, the 24-hour TV channel ‘Kalinga TV’, the monthly family magazine ‘Kadambini’, and the children’s magazine ‘Kunikatha’ are being published regularly, alongside the production of nationally and internationally acclaimed films.

KIIT’s Dedication to Society:

Since its establishment, KIIT has contributed across various sectors including education, arts, literature, culture, architecture, cinema, media, spirituality, rural development, sports, healthcare, and tribal upliftment through empowerment. Essentially, KIIT functions as a socially responsible organisation. Under the guidance of Dr. Samanta, KIIT has continuously upheld its responsibilities towards society. During the Covid-19 pandemic, KIIT provided food to three lakh people, sent 10 kg of food per month to the homes of 30,000 KISS students, adopted over 100 orphaned children, offered free education at KIIT and KISS to children who lost parents to Covid-19 or in the Balasore train mishap, and provided jobs to family members, along with five lakh financial aid and free education for children of KIIT and KISS employees who died of Covid-19, thus demonstrating its commitment to societal duties.