IVM measures impact through sustained participation, professional care, family reintegration, education, sport and the ability to rebuild a meaningful life.
IVM's work spans education, sport, community development and mental-health rehabilitation — with a consistent focus on dignity, participation and longer-term independence.
The organisation's source material records LORD's work from 1992, IVM's formation in 2000, more than 1,000 family reunifications through psychiatric rehabilitation, daily education support for 120 children, and sustained youth participation through football and life-skills programmes.
LORD was formed and began working among people living with mental illness.
Indian Village Movement was formed and started a psychiatric rehabilitation centre.
A North Chennai slum survey covered 5,000 people. Medical camps, school programmes, counselling, outpatient services and work with the Institute of Mental Health followed across Chennai, Cuddalore, Pondicherry and Kancheepuram.
School awareness expanded across districts. In 2001, hundreds of schools were covered, 300 outpatients were treated and counselling reached 10,000 people. By 2012, more than 1,000 patients had been reunited with their families.
Pernampet community work added monthly provisions, meals for older adults and evening tuition centres. Flood relief supported Saidapet and Kelambakkam, while COVID-19 support included telephonic and online counselling and monthly groceries.
Tuition centres received school bags, football players received jerseys, shoes and nutrition, and sports and education continued. In 2025 LORD merged with IVM as a project; in 2026 its psychiatric and de-addiction rehabilitation licence was renewed by the State Mental Health Authority, Chennai.
The LORD model brings together psychiatric care, psychology, nursing, social work, art therapy and daily living support.
Its rehabilitation approach combines structured cognitive sessions, art therapy, family involvement and post-discharge planning so recovery can continue beyond the centre.
Tuition centres in Nallavur Village and Pernampet Village provide daily academic support in Mathematics, Science, Tamil and English.
Five dedicated trained teachers use interactive group learning, individualized homework support and participatory sessions. The documented outcome is significant improvement in academic performance and bridging rural education gaps.
The Arumbakkam initiative has supported 65 boys and girls per year for three consecutive years.
Beyond jerseys, boots, stockings, shin pads and nets, the programme includes resilience, sportsmanship, mental wellbeing, bounce-back breathing, team dynamics and healthy post-session meals.
Every beneficiary is treated with respect, care and without judgment.
Programmes are designed with and for communities, not merely delivered to them.
Impact is documented, measured and reported transparently to stakeholders.
No child or patient is excluded on the basis of gender, background or condition.
Interventions are built to create lasting change, not just immediate relief.
Services are delivered by qualified professionals to high ethical standards.
The proposal describes specialised residential blocks for adolescents, women, men and older adults, a full-scale neuro-psychiatric and de-addiction hospital, and a Child Development Centre.
Explore the work →Support education, youth development and mental-health recovery — or partner with IVM to build something lasting.
