Indian social activist notches up Isa Award

Manama 

Dr. Achyuta Samanta, founder of India-based Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS), the largest residential institute for tribal people in the world, has won the prestigious Isa Award for Service to Humanity.

Addressing the media yesterday, Mohamed Benaissa, member of the nomination committee, said that as many as 27 names had been referred to the award jury committee. “The jury shortlisted three names and visited all three places, before selecting Achyuta Samanta,” Mohamed Benaissa said.

Commenting on the winner of the award, he said, “The organisation headed by Achyuta Samanta provides accommodation, study, career development and healthcare to 20,000 neglected and underprivileged tribal children each year in its largest integrated residential campus, located in Bhubaneswar, the eastern city of India. 

“Dr. Samanta is a social entrepreneur in true sense of the word for he has his innovative solution to the society’s most pressing problems. He has the ability to understand what is not working in the system and bring about an effective solution to it. As a social entrepreneur in true spirit, Dr. Samanta has been proving to be the change agent of the society,” commented Mohamed Benaissa.

Dr. Samanta will be awarded a certificate of appreciation, a 21 K. gold medal and US$ 1,000,000. The award will be presented in an official ceremony under the patronage of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, on June 3, which marks the birthday of the late Amir HH Shaikh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa.

“Dr. Samanta’s vision is to provide quality education and opportunity to the poorest of the poor indigenous tribal children. His life is dedicated for their all-round development and empowering them with vocations and skills for life so that they can live harmoniously with the mainstream communities,” Mohamed Benaissa explained. 

“Love and care have helped the tribal children to shine in every field, from representing nation in international sports to excelling in various qualifying examinations,” he said, adding that Dr. Samanta had been chosen for the award after considering all these achievements by him. 

Ali Abdulla Khalifa, secretary general of the General Secretariat, which is responsible for overseeing the operations of the Isa Award, was also present at the press conference.