UN Grants Special Consultative Status to Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS)

In a major recognition, Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS), Bhubaneshwar has been accorded Special Consultative Status by the United Nations. The special consultative status confers a host of privileges and facilities on an NGO, which are similar to those conferred to a member country by the UN. Induction of an NGO in this elite group follows a ratification process similar to membership of a new country in the UN. The United Nations Economic and Social Council (UN-ECOSOC) granted the prestigious recognition to KISS after concurrence by representatives of all the member countries. Till date only six NGOs from India have got this recognition, this year KISS was added to the list. It is the first NGO from Odisha to get Special Consultative Status from the UN. A communication to this effect from the UN Headquarters was received by the KISS authorities on July 23, 2015. 

The KISS authorities had made a presentation for grant of Special Consultative Status at UN Headquarters in New York in front of the representatives of the all member countries of the UN in February 2014. Following detailed discussion, all representatives accorded their approval, except two countries who wanted more information. It took KISS authorities one year to satisfy the queries raised by these two countries. Subsequently, resolution to grant Special Consultative Status was adopted unanimously.   

KISS offers Post Graduation in Applied Physics, Post Graduate in Chemistry, Post Graduate Course in Applied Mathematics, Master of Science in Botany, Post Graduate Course in Zoology, Masters in Political Science, Master In Economics, Post Graduate Course in History and Master of Science (Anthropology).

The Recognition Process:

The visionary founder of KISS Prof. Achyuta Samanta initiated the process for this prestigious recognition in 2009 and an application was submitted in the same year.

• The UN silently but thoroughly evaluated the activities, functioning and achievements of KISS during the period from 2009 to 2012.
• The observation phase was followed by detailed discussion on various activities of KISS. All the Committees of the UN were satisfied with the functioning of KISS.
• Different Committees recommended to the UN for grant of special status to KISS between 2012 and 2014.
• In 2014, in a session of the Heads of the Member States of the UN, the proposal for grant of special status to KISS received the final approval.
• Subsequently, KISS was accorded with this recognition in a session of the General Assembly of the UN after approval of the UN Secretary General Mr. Ban-Ki Moon.

It may be mentioned here that thousands of NGOs from across the world apply for the coveted status. It is a long and complex process, but Prof. Samanta continued his effort with perseverance. KISS is the only NGO from India to receive this recognition from among several that had applied.

The KISS Advantage:

• With this special status, KISS will have following special privileges:
• Providing expert information to UN-ECOSOC
• Receiving information about provisional agenda of the UN-ECOSOC
• Engage with the Secretary General of UN and place items of special interest in the provisional agenda of the UN-ECOSOC
• Having access to the United Nations and attendance at its meetings, designate official representative to the United nations Headquarters in New York, United Nation’s offices in Geneva and Viena and participate in various events, conferences and activities of the United Nations
• Sitting as observer at public meetings of UN-ECOSOC and its subsidiary bodies, General Assembly of UN, Human Rights Council and various other United Nations intergovernmental decision-making bodies
• Submitting written statements in areas of its competence and relevant to the work of UN-ECOSOC 
• Making oral presentations at UN-ECOSOC
• Providing consultations to UN-ECOSOC and its subsidiary bodies
• Using facilities of United Nations