UN Grants Special Consultative Status to KISS

The Special Consultative Status confers a host of privileges and facilities on an NGO, which are similar to those conferred to a member country by the UN. Induction of an NGO in this elite group follows a ratification process similar to membership of a new country in the UN. 

The United Nations Economic and Social Council (UN-ECOSOC) granted the prestigious recognition to KISS after concurrence by representatives of all the member countries. So far only six NGOs from India have got this recognition, this year KISS was added to the list. 

It is the first NGO from Odisha to get Special Consultative Status from the UN. A communication to this effect from the UN Headquarters was received by the KISS authorities on July 23, 2015.  The KISS authorities had made a presentation for grant of Special Consultative Status at UN Headquarters, New York in front of the representatives of <g data-gr-id="47">the all</g> member countries of the UN in February 2014. 

Following <g data-gr-id="51">detailed</g> discussion, all representatives accorded their approval, except two countries who wanted more information. It took KISS authorities one year to satisfy the queries raised by these two countries. 

Subsequently, <g data-gr-id="46">resolution</g> to grant Special Consultative Status to KISS was adopted unanimously. KISS which had a humble beginning as a residential tribal school in 1993 in a rented house with only 125 students, is now the largest free residential tribal institute of the world with 25,000 students providing education from KG to PG. 

It has been actively engaged in fulfilling the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) of the UN. The Special Consultative Status for KISS is a matter of great pride and glory not only for <g data-gr-id="49">itself,</g> but also for the entire tribal community of Odisha, the state of Odisha as well as the country.