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Bala Mandir Kamaraj Trust

Overview
Inspired by the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi, Bala Mandir was started in 1949 by late Sri. K.Kamaraj and Smt. S. Manjubhashini. It is today a premier Social Welfare Organisation, which has over the years sheltered thousands of children in difficult circumstances – orphans, destitute and socio-economically deprived children – and now the activities are expanded to include children with special needs. Bala Mandir is a registered society under the Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Act, 1975.

With an impeccable track record of a highly ethical and professional approach, Bala Mandir is well known for working towards holistic all-round development of the children under its care. With this in focus, Bala Mandir has gone beyond childcare and rehabilitation and today runs schools (Primary and High School), and centres for children with intellectual disabilities in its campus located in the heart of urban Chennai. Bala Mandir also works beyond its homes and educational institutions on outreach programmes to share the best practices in parenting and early childhood practices, and is looking to expand its activities beyond the current scope of work.

The institution has excellent facilities for all its activities – children’s home (infants, toddlers, girls and boys), crèche with a Montessori environment, schools teaching in Tamil and English mediums (primary, high school, children with special needs), resource centre, administrative block etc., due to the wonderful work done over the years with the support of its well-wishers and donors. It is housed in 5 acres of prime land in Chennai. Bala Mandir also has one unit outside of Chennai, located in Nagercoil in Tamil Nadu.

Bala Mandir is an independently run organisation which is not affiliated to any specific corporate organisation or individual or group. The institution is largely funded through Government grants for specific programmes and donations from a limited group of Corporates as well as people from within India and outside, who know about Bala Mandir and have had many years of association with it. Bala Mandir has all necessary approvals as a charitable institution including FCRA approval.

Besides the paid staff, there is a small group of dedicated volunteers (normally members of the executive committee) who take specific responsibilities in running the institution. Bala Mandir also has a board of trustees whose role is not only to advise and guide Bala Mandir in all its new initiatives, but also to safe guard the assets of the organisation.