Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik inaugurated the Balasore branch of The Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) Emami-KISS Residential School on June 13 through video conferencing. Addressing the gathering Shri Patnaik said, today I am very much happy to inaugurate the Emami-KISS. On this occasion I congratulate the people of Balasore, especially the children. Shri Patnaik said, education is the most powerful medium. It brings the biggest transformation in one’s life. The state government has given more importance to education. The state government is transferring the schools under the 5T programme. Till date, more than four thousand high schools have been transformed. It has created interest among students. KISS has opened its branches in various districts along with KISS-Bhubaneswar. KISS has taken initiative to open fully free residential schools for poor and underprivileged tribal children in 30 districts of Odisha. This would strengthen our initiative to give quality education to all children, he added. He also appreciated the joint initiative of Emami and KISS.
Aswini Kumar Patra, Minister, Tourism, Odia Language, Literature & Culture, Excise said KISS Founder Dr. Achyuta Samanta has brought transformation in lakhs of poor tribal children through education. It is not a small thing, it is the divine power of Dr. Samanta.
Balasore MP Pratap Chandra Sarangi said, Dr. Samanta has created a ray of light in the lives of lakhs poor and underprivileged tribal children. He has brought transformation in empowering them through education. We all the people of Odisha irrespective of our cast, creed and political affiliation should support wholeheartedly to Dr. Samanta for this great initiative.
Remuna MLA Sudhansu Sekhar Parida said, today is a great day for Remuna people. I am grateful to Dr. Samanta and the Emami group for opening Emami-KISS in Remuna of Balasore district. The poor children of Balasore district will get quality education at free of cost.
In his welcome address Dr. Samanta said, it is a sprawling eco-friendly and Wi-Fi green campus. The campus has been built in collaboration with the Emami Group. It has entailed an investment of Rs. 50 crore for land and infrastructural development and setting up of mechanized kitchen, a 25-bed hospital, furniture and fixture and other facilities in the 1,20,000 sq.ft built-up area. The Emami Group has provided Rs.14 Crores and the remaining Rs.36 crores has been provided by KIIT. The Emami-KISS is a fully free residential school like KISS-Bhubaneswar. In the first phase, the school will have the strength of 1200 students from standard-1 to standard-12 and provide quality education to poor and underprivileged children under the CBSE curriculum. Emami-KISS would be the asset of the people of Balasore. K Sudarshan Chakrabartti, Collector and DM proposed vote of thanks. Among others Mr. Susil Goenka, representative of Emami group was also present.