Washington State delegation visits KIIT and KISS in Bhubaneswar

A 17-member delegation from Washington State, including a state senator and several mayors, visited the KIIT and KISS institutions in Bhubaneswar, India. The visit is part of the India Trek programme, scheduled from October 12 to 19.

During a special program at the Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS), ten members of the delegation were presented with the KIIT-KISS Is One (KKIO) Lifetime Achievement Award 2026. Award recipients included Washington State Senator Tina Louise Orwall and mayors from Kent, Tukwila, Issaquah, Mukilteo, DuPont, University Place, and SeaTac, as well as a council member from Kent.

The delegates interacted with students and expressed admiration for the scale and discipline of the institutions, particularly noting the large number of children studying together at KISS. KIIT and KISS founder Achyuta Samanta welcomed the group, noting the institutions' focus on providing education and support to tribal children from disadvantaged backgrounds.