Dr. A Samanta is a pioneer in espousing education in Odisha. He is the Founder of Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) & Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) and now a medical college Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS). He was awarded the prestigious Gusi Peace Prize on poverty eradication through education & humanitarianism in Manila recently. The highlights of the colleges are as mentioned:
Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT)
A multi-disciplinary promising University with global visibility with 25,000 students. Spread 25 sq. kms. KIIT has 22 sprawling campuses with 10 million square feet built-up area:
- KIIT, started in a rented house in 1992 with less than $100 as seed capital, now provides employment both direct and indirect to a million people.
- Instrumental in changing the business landscape of the capital city, Bhubaneswar.
Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS)
A home for 22,500 poorest of the poor indigenous children who are provided with accommodation, food, healthcare and education from kindergarten to post-graduation absolutely free. It is only one its kind in the world.
- Replicated in Delhi for 1200 under privileged children.
- Branches in Bangladesh and Cambodia (in process).
- 20 branches in 20 districts of Odisha (in process).