Bhubaneswar, Aug. 3: Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) has been accorded special consultative status by the United Nations.

The status confers a host of privileges and facilities on an NGO, which are similar to those conferred to a member country by the UN.

The United Nations Economic and Social Council granted the prestigious recognition to KISS after concurrence by representatives of all the member countries. Till date, only six NGOs from India have received this recognition. This year, KISS was added to the list.

KISS authorities had made a presentation for grant of the status at the UN headquarters in New York in front of the representatives of the all member countries in February last year. Following detailed discussion, all representatives accorded their approval, except two countries who wanted more information. It took the KISS authorities one year to satisfy the queries raised by these two countries.