The Dr. Ambedkar Chair, KISS Deemed to be University, with the support of the Dr. Ambedkar Foundation, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Government of India, organized a workshop on “Capacity Building of University Students through an Ambedkarite Lens” on 8th August 2026 at the KISS-DU Auditorium.

The workshop brought together over 175 postgraduate students and Ph.D. scholars from the School of Tribal Legal Studies and Tribal Rights, the School of Tribal Resource Management, and the School of Comparative Tribal Languages and Literatures. The initiative was conceptualized to promote holistic capacity building by connecting leadership development, communication skills, career enhancement, community engagement, and constitutional literacy with the vision of an egalitarian and inclusive society inspired by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.

Inaugural Session and Orientation

The programme commenced with a Welcome Address and orientation by Professor Chittaranjan Bhoi, Chair Professor, Dr. Ambedkar Chair, KISS-DU. In his introductory remarks, Prof. Bhoi situated the workshop within the broader vision of student capacity building and social empowerment. He emphasized that an Ambedkarite perspective provides the intellectual foundation for linking personal excellence with social justice, equality, dignity, rights, and responsible citizenship.

Technical Sessions

The workshop featured three interactive technical sessions designed to cover individual, community, and constitutional dimensions of empowerment:

  • Session I: Leadership, Communication and Capacity Building Conducted by Shri Saroj Kumar Dash, Director, Training and Placement, KISS-DU, this session focused on developing leadership qualities, effective communication, teamwork, and decision-making skills. Shri Dash also provided valuable guidance on higher education opportunities, skill development, entrepreneurship, and career planning, followed by an interactive Q&A session with students.

  • Session II: Community Engagement and Grassroots Development Led by Dr. Sabyasachi Rout, Senior Manager (Projects), KISS, the second session highlighted the importance of community participation and grassroots development. Dr. Rout encouraged students to identify local challenges, adopt participatory approaches, and formulate individual and community action plans to serve as active drivers of social transformation.

  • Session III: Understanding Social Inclusion and Constitutional Rights Delivered by Professor Chittaranjan Bhoi, the final technical session focused on the central Ambedkarite themes of social justice, equality, constitutional guarantees, and human rights. Prof. Bhoi familiarized participants with institutional support mechanisms, government schemes, and entitlements, demonstrating that constitutional literacy is essential for individual empowerment and social inclusion.

Integrated Impact and Significance

The workshop established a comprehensive framework for student empowerment, moving progressively through Individual Capacity → Community Engagement → Constitutional Empowerment. It successfully reinforced student awareness regarding career pathways, community consciousness, social responsibility, and constitutional provisions.

By bridging academic discourse with practical social issues, the workshop aligns directly with the mandate of the Dr. Ambedkar Chair at KISS-DU to nurture informed, capable, and socially conscious citizens.

The Dr. Ambedkar Chair expressed its sincere gratitude to the Dr. Ambedkar Foundation, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Government of India, for its support. Gratitude was also extended to the university leadership, resource persons, organizing team, and participating scholars for the successful conduct of the workshop.