Chennai: “In the near future, we look forward to include more children and share our best practices with the larger community in Tamilnadu and the rest of India. Our goal is to encourage, engage and enrich the lives of all children continuing with the core values which our founders – Kamaraj and Manjubhashini – espoused,” said Bala Mandir Kamaraj Trust general secretary Maya Gaitonde.
Speaking to News Today ahead of the organisation’s three-day event, “Celebrating 70 years in service of children,” starting tomorrow, she said, “We will retrospect ourselves, remember our past, honour the contributions of our staff, members, donors and let our children stage their thought-provoking presentations.”
The celebration event will start 8 March and conclude 10 March at the trust’s premises on G N Chetty Road, T Nagar. Some of the programmes include inauguration of its cultural centre in the presence of Braade Stiftung chairman Lars Odd Pettersen with Sarva Dharma prayer on 8 March; and Bala Mandir alumni and volunteers meeting on 9 March.
On the last day, there will be a villupaatu event under the title, ‘Empowering through Education,’ featuring Bharathi Thirumagan and Kalaimagan. There will also be a special programme on the last day at Vani Mahal Maha Swami Hall with former West Bengal Governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi as the chief guest.
Inspired by the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi, Bala Mandir was started in 1949 by late chief minister K Kamaraj and S Manjubhashini. Over the last 70 years, it has sheltered thousands of orphans, destitute and socio-economically deprived children.
Bala Mandir is a registered society under the Tamilnadu Societies Registration Act, 1975. It has also gone beyond child care and rehabilitation and today runs schools (primary and higher secondary), a vocational institution and medical centres on its campus.
Bala Mandir recently added to its activities a centre for the development of children with special needs as well as research in early childhood and parenting.
For details, contact 99620 98068.