US Asst Secy of State visits KISS in Odisha capital

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Dec 14:

Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs in the United States Department of State Nisha Desai Biswal today visited KIIT and KISS in the Odisha capital.

The senior US government official was accompanied by 11 member delegates including Michael Mullins, US Consulate General, Hyderabad.

“I have been to many countries in my career and met many young children, but I have not seen a place like Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences”, said Nisha Desai Biswal, Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs in the United States Department of State today.

Calling her interaction with 25,000 tribal boys and girls of the institute “a very impressive event”, she stated, KISS is so special because it was started as a result of simple dream of a humble man to try to expand opportunities and education.

The institute was started by Dr. Achyuta Samanta in 1993 with only 125 students. But this small school has today grown into a massive institute with 25,000 students. “I am humbled by your vision, your ambition and the commitment to address the vision”, she said, referring to Dr. Samanta, while terming her visit a very important day in her entire career and life.

Addressing the students, Ms. Biswal advised them to utilise the opportunities that they have. She is working for better coordination between India and the U.S., which is the aim of President Obama, she informed, adding that the two countries can create a future that is sustainable, peaceful and prosperous. Highlighting her Indian roots, she said, “I am from a small town of Gujarat and daughter-in-law of Odisha”. “It is my first visit to Odisha with my family; I’m very much impressed by the culture, heritage, and beauty of Odisha.

The US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs also reviewed English Access Micro Scholarship Programme, which is being implemented by KISS with the help of US Embassy in India. She was accompanied by her husband, father-in-Law, Mother-in-Law and two daughters.