Inspired by the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi, Bala Mandir was started in 1949 by the 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 Kamaraj Trust (BMKT) 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 in its Homes. With this in focus, Bala Mandir has gone beyond childcare and rehabilitation and today runs English medium Schools (Primary and High School), and a Centre for children with intellectual disabilities by name BM MNC. The institution has excellent facilities for all these activities in the 5 acres of prime land in T. Nagar in Chennai. Bala Mandir also has one unit outside of Chennai, located in Nagercoil in Tamil Nadu.
In line with its 75-year theme of “Every Child Matters”, Bala Mandir has expanded its work beyond its homes and educational institutions to various outreach programmes aimed at children who need support. Bala Mandir Resource and Research Centre shares the best practices in parenting and early childhood practices with the people working in this area and directly works in over 90 villages in Tiruvallur district supporting close to 2000 children. Bala Mandir Kinship Care which was started in July 2021 after the devastation caused by Covid supports children below 12 years who had lost one or both parents but continue to stay with their guardians. The programme has grown to 14 districts and over 1450 children and is committed to helping the children all the way through school and college.
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. To support the expanding scope of its work, Bala Mandir USA was launched by the friends of Bala Mandir to raise money in the US. It is a 501(c)(3) registered non-profit organization in the USA.
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 safeguard the assets of the organisation.