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 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.
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.
Bala Mandir endorses the rights of all children and envisions for them loving care, good upbringing and opportunities for development especially for children in difficult circumstances.
The Vision statement is based on the following values that drive Bala Mandir’s actions –
- All children need loving care, good upbringing and opportunities for development
- A child without a family needs these all the more
- To serve foundlings, orphans, abandoned, destitute, socially and economically deprived, and intellectually disabled children – irrespective of caste, creed, gender and religion through Institutional and Non-Institutional programmes for care, all-around education, medical support, rehabilitation, and related research.
- To provide holistic education to children from the economically weaker section.
- To support children with intellectual disabilities and associated conditions through early intervention, empowering parents and dissemination of information as well as vocational skills training.
- To empower vulnerable families and communities with the knowledge, skills and resources to support children’s optimal growth and development.
- To undertake research projects in all its area of activities.
- To collaborate, coordinate and affiliate with Indian and International agencies in similar fields of work.
- To work with the Government for the formulation of suitable policies in the area of childcare for both neuro typical and intellectually disabled children, and provide support for its effective implementation.
What differentiates Bala Mandir is its “values”. These are deeply enshrined in all its activities and Bala Mandir has a successful track record of practising them without compromise. The following statements related to the code of conduct have been practised since the organisation’s inception and were documented to ensure that the same are practiced in the future also. They represent the core values and define the culture of the organisation.
- Child Centric Behaviour – The very purpose of Bala Mandir is to serve the child and hence this is the first and most important value for the institution. All actions undertaken by Bala Mandir have their foundation in this core of child centricity.
- Integrity – No individual may compromise the interests of Bala Mandir entrusted to that individual in favour of his or her private interests while working within Bala Mandir or dealing with third parties on behalf of Bala Mandir.
- Equality and Team work – This is an essential requirement for any organisation and especially for an NGO like Bala Mandir which has several volunteers and paid employees working together in a seamless way. By design the organisation structure is diffused with equality and respect for all people.
- Professional Approach – Working to the best of one’s abilities, clear logic for all actions, commitment to goals and tasks assigned are some of the values that Bala Mandir team members are expected to have, for it to become an exemplary world class professional institution. This code encompasses openness to new ideas and technologies.
- Respect for Law and Rules – Complete statutory compliance in both letter and spirit is always a top priority in Bala Mandir and all people act in line with this.
- Caring for Environment – Bala Mandir believes that actions for the protection of the environment,sustainable development, and minimal use of resources are essential for long term development,due to which the practice of frugal methods is strongly encouraged.
- Secular Outlook – This has always been a very important value in Bala Mandir which is understood and practised by all the people involved in the institution.
- Continual Improvement and Striving for Excellence – As a leader in its field, Bala Mandir needs to continuously learn, improve and strive for excellence. This includes adaptation to the changing needs of the community.
- Inclusion – Bala Mandir believes in equal access to opportunities and resources for all, irrespective of background, gender and ability / disability.