A Path for Empowering Tribal Girls through Holistic Education: A Case Study of Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS), Bhubaneswar

Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) and Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) in Odisha has become an important education hub in the eastern part of India. Both the institutes are considered as the leading deemed to be university in Odisha. Now KISS is recognized as the State Private Tribal University by University Grants Commission (UGC). This university imparts education from the class 1^st to 10^th in the school process, 11^th and 12^th at the higher secondary school process, Graduate, postgraduate, and Ph.D. at the University process. Only tribal students are permissible to pursue education from 1^st to Ph.D. level. Almost 60% of the total students are girl student from various corner of the district of Odisha state as well as from other parts of the country. The KISS is a residential environment where the tribal students stay and pursue education without paying any amount for the purpose. In addition to the study, the tribal students are given holistic education for increasing their knowledge and skill. These holistic education are reflected in the form of value added training programme, education on monther tounge based multi lingual education, life skill and sexual health, education through english language learning and communication development, training programme on social entrepreneurship, special coaching classes, training on personality development, grooming, special counselling, mentoring, international voluntary programme, education on vocational training and there is a provision for free proffessional education admission in KIIT. Such advanced academic curriculum gives educational empowerment to tribal girls students at KISS.