Life at KISS is more than just academics-it’s a vibrant, nurturing ecosystem where over 30,000 students from diverse Indigenous communities across India live, learn and grow together.
As a fully residential institute, KISS offers holistic care: nutritious meals, accessible healthcare and rich extracurriculars. But what truly sets us apart is how we do it—with our students, not just for them.Education here is more than textbooks and classrooms; it’s a shared journey grounded in respect, identity, and possibility.
Indigenous identity isn’t set aside at KISS—it is central. Students grow up learning in their mother tongues, celebrating their rituals, practicing their art forms and engaging with their spiritual traditions. Many of our educators come from the same communities.
“We believe education should empower, not overwrite. Our classrooms are spaces of dialogue, mutual learning and shared pride. We don’t ‘deliver’ education; we co-build it with the communities we serve.”
Recognizing every child as a bearer of ancestral wisdom and a leader of tomorrow
The curriculum is co-created to affirm Indigenous knowledge systems while opening pathways
Between tradition and innovation, selfhood and aspiration, where children come from and where they’re going
A Home Away from Home for over 40,000 students from Indigenous communities across Odisha and beyond
Our residential campuses are thoughtfully organised by age and gender.
A design philosophy rooted in comfort, safety and a deep sense of belonging
Round-the-clock security, comprehensive CCTV monitoring, and strict access protocols ensure that hostel spaces remain protected zones accessible only to students and authorized personnel.
Understanding emotional needs of students living away from home, we’ve created structures that nurture fairness and inclusivity. Family visits are organized on specific days in open campus areas.
Every December, we host a day of joy, music and reunion, when the campus comes alive with thousands of families celebrating their children’s journeys.
As many of our youngest students arrive with pre-existing health challenges such as anaemia, malnutrition, or limited hygiene access, our onboarding includes comprehensive medical check-ups and a collective grooming process.
For instance, younger children often receive cropped haircuts to prevent common scalp issues like lice and dandruff in shared living environments—a precaution taken in the spirit of community care, not conformity. As they grow older and more confident in self-care, students express themselves more openly.
Equal Ground for Every Child: Uniforms nurture a culture of dignity and equality. During festivals and cultural celebrations, students proudly don their traditional attire, dancing and singing in the languages and customs of their ancestors.
At KISS, food is more than a meal—it is nourishment, care and cultural continuity. Many Indigenous communities face food insecurity, not from lack of knowledge, but from shrinking access to forests, land, and traditional systems. Malnutrition, especially among children, is a critical concern. At KISS, we work to break this cycle.
Featured in National Geographic
KISS runs one of the largest kitchens in the world—a steam-based, eco-friendly mega-facility that prepares over 100,000 meals daily. Featured in National Geographic’s India’s Mega Kitchens, this 24,000 sq. ft. marvel isn’t just about scale—it’s about care, belonging and the right to grow.
Meals Daily
At KISS, we believe that true education nurtures the whole child—mind, body and spirit. In many Indigenous communities, emotional and psychological resilience has long been interwoven with cultural identity, spiritual practice, and community care. KISS honours and builds on these traditions.
Well-being is not an add-on at KISS; it's embedded into our daily rhythms. We integrate yoga, mindfulness, and cultural practices into everyday life as tools for physical wellness, stress management, and inner balance.
Our Wellness Centre offers a safe and welcoming space where students can seek support, reflect and grow. We have a team of trained, in-house counsellors who provide regular one-on-one counselling, group sessions and workshops throughout the year.
Every teaching staff member also serves as a mentor under the direct guidance of our Founder, Dr. Achyuta Samanta. This ensures every student has an adult they can turn to, not just during school terms but also during summer breaks.
KISS also actively observes World Mental Health Day, hosts webinars with national and international experts, and facilitates peer learning spaces focused on self-care and emotional intelligence.
Our health education programme goes beyond academics, helping students learn decision-making, empathy, self-expression, and critical thinking—nurturing responsible and reflective citizens who can advocate for themselves and their communities.
We are proud to partner with global leaders like UNESCO MGIEP and Life University through the Compassionate Integrity Training programme—a socio-emotional learning curriculum that strengthens emotional intelligence, ethical decision-making and interpersonal skills.
KISS DU awarded by R World Institutional Rankings for Mental Health and Wellbeing, recognising our safe, supportive campus environment
Confidential channels for students to raise and resolve concerns
Zero-tolerance environment for any form of abuse or coercion
Promotes equity and inclusion across gender, caste, class, and identity
Together, these efforts help us contribute meaningfully to SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being), affirming that mental wellness is not a privilege—it’s a right. We create a comprehensive mental health and wellness ecosystem designed for the unique needs and lived realities of our students.
Beyond academics, KISS offers a rich tapestry of experiences that nurture creativity, leadership, and cultural pride through diverse clubs and activities.
Arts, drama, debate, reading, STEM clubs with access to library, creative labs, and maker spaces
Leadership development programmes with opportunities to travel and participate in competitions, treks, and exchange programmes
Dance, music, oral traditions, crafts, and festival celebrations across tribal communities
Sacred groves, totems, places of worship, and language preservation efforts
Students are custodians and transmitters of culture, engaging in traditional dance, music, storytelling, and crafts that preserve ancestral wisdom for future generations.
Promoting literacy and love for learning through diverse reading programs
Creative expression through theatre, visual arts, and performance
Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics exploration
Building confidence and communication skills
Celebrating diverse tribal festivals and traditions year-round
Sacred groves, totems, and places of worship maintained on campus
Preservation and practice of ancestral music, dance, and crafts
Storytelling sessions preserving ancestral wisdom and history
100-bed facility with doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and trained health attendants
Accessible, quality healthcare is fundamental to ensuring every child can learn and grow. At KISS, we believe that proactive, preventive and culturally sensitive healthcare lays the foundation for long-term well-being.
Preventive care is our priority. We conduct immunisation drives for diseases like MMR, hepatitis, and chickenpox, along with awareness sessions on hygiene, nutrition, and menstrual health.
We operate our own Sanitary Pad Production Unit that provides menstrual hygiene products to thousands of girls on campus. This initiative promotes dignity, health, and empowers girls to manage their periods with confidence.” Also delete the “6,000+ Girls supported monthly
Our collaboration with KIDS (Kalinga Institute of Dental Sciences) ensures every child receives regular dental check-ups. KISS Hospital functions as a satellite centre, expanding our healthcare scope.
We carefully educate students on disease prevention. During seasonal challenges like monsoons, special guidelines are shared on waterborne disease prevention.
Health Coverage
Medical Support
We conduct Basic Life Support (BLS) training with experts from KIMS to teach students emergency response skills. This builds a culture of responsibility, preparedness, and care throughout our community.
Through KISS Hospital and our integrated wellness systems, we align with SDG 3 (Good Health & Well-Being) and SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation). But more importantly, we deliver healthcare with humanity—ensuring every child is seen, heard and cared for.
At KISS, health is not just a service. It’s a promise we make to every student, every day.
At KISS, residential life is designed to empower students to thrive holistically—physically, mentally, socially and spiritually, rooted in Indigenous cultural pride.
