Achyuta Samanta: Great Social Worker, Philanthropist and Educationist

 Achyuta Samanta, founder of KIIT or Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology and KISS or Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences is one of the greatest philanthropists, educationists and a social worker. Both his founding educational institutions hold global recognition and repute for offering superior quality professional education to students from across India and more than 65 countries. While KIIT offers education to 30, 000+ students from across India, KISS, the First Tribal University in the world, is home to 60, 000 indigenous children offering them free education and other required services. 

Contributions

Besides tribal upliftment, education, rural development and healthcare, Samanta has also made his presence felt in the fields of art, film, culture, national integration, media and society. He has successfully converted the remote village of Kalarabanka into a Smart Village and the Manpur Panchayat into a model Panchayat. His work as a social reformer is also worth appreciating. He is the propagator of the Art of Giving concept that aims to bring happiness and peace across the world. Besides this, his other contributions include Kanyakiran that promotes zero tolerance against gender-based violence; Education for All to create awareness on the significance of education and many more such as India Against Negativity; New Mind, New Dreams and Art of Appreciation.

Positions Held and Awards Conferred

Achyuta Samanta MP is currently the Member of Parliament from Kandhamal constituency in Odisha and the President of the Volleyball Federation of India. He is also the founder of Parliamentarians for Indigenous People and Designated President of Democracy without Borders. Achyuta Samanta is the first Odia to serve as the member of AICTE and University Grants Commission. Besides this, he is also the member of several bodies of the Indian Government, such as ISTE, NCTE, Coir Board, ISCA, CAPART and Academic Council of Central University of Odisha and Assam. Samanta has been conferred with 50+ international and national awards and more than 200 state recognitions besides a couple of highest Civilian Awards from the Royal Kingdom of Mongolia and Bahrain.

Conclusion

Despite contributing immensely towards education and other fields and with a number of achievements under his belly, Achyuta Samanta leads a very simple life in a 2-room rented apartment. Still a bachelor, Samanta is fast racing towards the cause of achieving zero hunger, zero poverty and zero illiteracy while spreading smile among millions.