Overview

The KISS Humanitarian Award is a prestigious annual international award conferred by the Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) in Bhubaneswar, India. The award was initiated in 2008 to recognize and felicitate individuals for their exemplary and distinguished service to humanity across the globe.  It is a symbol of hope, compassion, and altruism, and its recognition of deeds of kindness is a mechanism that inspires others to follow the same path.

The KISS Humanitarian Award consists of a citation and a gold plated trophy that depicts a great social message given in a public function at KISS. The trophy symbolizes compassionate service to humanity providing power, knowledge, and capacity to a multitude of hapless hands around the globe. The pair of hands in the upholding gesture and the large heart represents the compassionate service of humanity, while the single pair of hands upholding the heart depicts how a pair of dedicated hands can make a significant difference in the lives of the helpless.

Some of the distinguished individuals who have been conferred with the KISS Humanitarian Award in the past include Madam Edna Bomo Molewa, former premier of North-western state of South Africa and the Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment, Dr. Ham-Kee-Sun, President of Hanseo University, an outstanding Ophthalmologist of South Korea, and Mr. Anerood Jugnauth, President of the Republic of Mauritius. Other notable recipients of the award are Rt. Hon. Lord Justice Nicholas Addison Phillips, President of the Supreme Court of UK, Lyonchhen Jigmiy Thinley, Prime Minister of Bhutan, Madam Albina Du Boisrouvray, Founder FXB International, Switzerland, Ms. Anne Margaret Fagertun Stenhammer, Regional Director of UN Women for South Asia, Dr. Alejandro Toledo, Former President of Peru, Ms. Ashley Judd, UNFPA Global Goodwill Ambassador, His Holiness Dalai Lama and Prof. Muhammad Yunus. In 2020, Gianni Infantino, the President of FIFA, agreed to receive the KISS Humanitarian Award. In 2021, Shri Amitabh Bachchan agreed to receive the award. The past recipients of the KISS Humanitarian Award are from five continents and includes two nobel laureates. The award has attracted the attention of both domestic and international media and has attained much covetousness over the years.