Sarangdhar Samal heads Orissa’s leading social developmental organization, NYSASDRI as Director. A Post Graduate Degree holder, Mr. Samal’s passion goes well beyond social work. His experience and involvement in the action and research hemisphere of development stretches the past 40 years and distinguishes him as an international leader in the field. NYSASDRI, and by extension Mr. Samal, is associated with a number of international and national organizations, forums, networks, and other apex bodies like the United Nations Organization. Under his leadership more than 300 action and exploratory researches, projects and programmes have been carried out so far. He has been a pioneer in initiating and transforming a number of change models in rural Orissa, India.
Mr. Samal is also the founder of Kalinga Eye Hospital & Research Centre. This hospital caters to a population of 4 million from the most under-developed and rural areas of Orissa with an emphasis on low operating costs. According to critics, he has innovated the most cost-effective model in eye care today.
In the year 2013, Mr. Samal founded the NYSASDRI School of Journalism & Social Work. This institution offers Master’s degrees in Social Work and Journalism, with the aim to produce professional social workers and journalists for the Indian society. The curriculum (and the degrees) are approved and recognized by the government and the Utkal University of Culture,Orissa. Mr. Samal holds the position of Founder Director at the institution.
Mr. Samal has travelled the world extensively and spends many months in a year travelling as a distinguished guest speaker to significant global forums, UN Bodies and Top Universities of the world.