Ms. Sumitra Naik, Ph.D. scholar of School of Tribal Resource Management (STRM) KISS Deemed to be University was awarded Ph.D. on 19th July 2025. The title of her thesis was “Role of Financial Literacy in Financial Inclusion of Tribal People”. Under the supervision of Dr. Snigdharani Panda, Associate Professor and Chairperson Council of Deans of the School of Tribal Resource Management (STRM) of KISS-DU, and Dr. Snehalata Das, Assistant Professor of the School of Tribal Resource Management (STRM) of KISS-DU. The defense was presided over by the external examiner, Professor Sudhir Chandra Das, Faculty of Commerce, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi.
Dr. Sumitra belongs to the Lodha tribe in Odisha and has the credit of being the first Ph.D. holder in her Village. Through her research work, she focuses on financial literacy, financial inclusion, financial awareness, and different financial services provided by the government towards tribal people. Dr. Naik began her educational journey at KISS, joining the 7th standard in 2007. She continued her higher education at KISS. She later pursued her B.Com. and M.Com. at KIIT Deemed to be University in 2018. After completing her Master’s degree, she enrolled in the M.Phil program at KISS Deemed to be University in 2019. Following her M.Phil program, she enrolled in the Ph.D. program at KISS Deemed to be University in 2021. In 2021, she secured a lectureship in Commerce through the State Selection Board (SSB).
While expressing her gratitude, Dr. Sumitra Naik said, I am deeply thankful to my supervisor, Dr. Snigdharani Panda, and my co-supervisor, Dr. Snehalata Das. I sincerely thank all the RSC members, Professor B.C.M. Patnaik, KIIT School of Management, Professor Jagannath Lenka, Professor Emeritus, Dr. Parikshita Khatua, Assistant Professor, KISS-DU and I express my sincere thanks to Professor Ranjan Kumar Bal, VC Nominee.
My special thanks and gratitude to our Hon’ble Founder, Dr. Achyuta Samanta, for giving me a great opportunity to study in this pristine institution and providing me with the platform to spread my wings.
