M.S. Chellamuthu Trust and Research Foundation

What M.S. Chellamuthu Trust and Research Foundation does

M.S. Chellamuthu Trust and Research Foundation is a non-profit charitable trust founded in 1992 by Dr. C. Ramasubramanian and headquartered in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India. It is the largest mental health-focused non-profit in southern Tamil Nadu, delivering a comprehensive portfolio of services across the continuum of care — from community screening and rural outreach through residential rehabilitation, vocational training, and societal reintegration. Core programs include five residential rehabilitation centers supporting 550 homeless persons with mental illness, the 40-acre Chellamuthu Gardens campus with capacity to scale from 200 to 500 residents, a 30-bed de-addiction facility, the Aakash Special School for children with intellectual disabilities, the Happy Schooling program in 24 corporation schools, and the Speak2Us suicide prevention helpline. Specialized initiatives include the Dava Dua Program integrating medical treatment with faith-based healing, Project Magizhchi with NIMHANS for police personnel, and the Community Mental Health Programme funded by Andheri Hilfe across 650 villages.

The organization operates a multi-stakeholder funding model with no fee-for-service revenue from beneficiaries. Revenue is drawn from individual donations (including diaspora in the US), corporate CSR partnerships (BPCL, HCL Foundation), Government of Tamil Nadu grants for residential care homes and the District Mental Health Programme implemented across 16 districts, international funders (Andheri Hilfe, Rotary International), and the Care Factory social enterprise selling handmade products made by persons recovering from mental illness. It runs an affiliated educational institute (M.S. Chellamuthu Institute of Mental Health and Rehabilitation) offering diploma, graduate, and PhD-level courses, and Ahana Hospitals, South India's first NABH-accredited psychiatric hospital. Over 30 years the trust has served 6,00,000+ beneficiaries, with 1,000+ recovered individuals securing job placements and 10,000+ persons having benefited from de-addiction services.

Name

M.S. Chellamuthu Trust and Research Foundation

Legal name

M.S. Chellamuthu Trust and Research Foundation

Website

https://msctrust.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

M.S. Chellamuthu Trust and Research Foundation is a Madurai-based non-profit founded in 1992 that delivers comprehensive mental health services — residential rehabilitation, community outreach, de-addiction, special education, and vocational training — to homeless persons, children with disabilities, and rural communities across Tamil Nadu.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mental Health Services

NAICS

Residential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Facilities (623220), Residential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Facilities (62322), Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers (621420), Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers (62142), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050), Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Residential Mental Health Treatment Centers (HLAFACAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Outpatient Mental Health Clinics & Counseling Centers (HLAFACAA), Behavioral Health for Children & Adolescents (Youth Services) (HLAFACAL)

Keywords

• Mental health services
• Psychosocial rehabilitation
• Community mental health
• Residential rehabilitation centers
• Mental health nonprofit

Headquarters

HQ city

Madurai

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Philanthropic Contributions: Individual donors contribute through the organization's website portal. The trust has supporters from India and abroad, including diaspora donors in the US.
2. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Partnerships: Corporate organizations partner with the trust to fulfill their CSR obligations under Indian law. Companies can make one-time donations, support specific projects, or engage employees through volunteering and payroll giving programs.
3. Government Grants and Aid: Government of Tamil Nadu provides partial funding for residential care homes serving homeless persons with mental illness. Programs like District Mental Health Programme receive government support.
4. Care Factory Social Enterprise: Care Factory, started in 2018, generates revenue through sale of handmade products (baked goods, jute bags, home needs) produced by persons recovering from mental illness. Proceeds support trust programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

M.S. Chellamuthu Trust and Research Foundation provides free mental health care and rehabilitation services to underprivileged populations in Tamil Nadu, India. Its core offerings span residential rehabilitation at five institutional homes (550 residents), community-based mental health outreach across six districts, professional education through M.S. Chellamuthu Institute of Mental Health & Rehabilitation, special education for children with intellectual disabilities, de-addiction treatment, vocational training through the Care Factory social enterprise, suicide prevention via the Speak2Us helpline, and telepsychiatry for remote villages.

Product overview

M.S. Chellamuthu Trust and Research Foundation is a nonprofit organization offering comprehensive mental health services as a portfolio of interconnected programs rather than a unified software product. The core offerings include residential rehabilitation centers (Chellamuthu Gardens, Srishti), the M.S. Chellamuthu Institute of Mental Health & Rehabilitation for professional education, vocational training and employment support (Care Factory), community-based outreach programs, child mental health services (Aakash Special School, Happy Schooling), de-addiction services, and various support networks (Speak2Us helpline, Subitcham caregiver network, Synergy sibling network). The organization operates across 6 districts in Tamil Nadu with a holistic approach covering awareness, treatment, rehabilitation, vocational training, and reintegration to society.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Speak2Us: Suicide prevention helpline service provided by the trust with support of trained volunteers
• Subitcham
• Synergy
• Udyog
• Dava Dua Program
• Happy Schooling
• Project Magizhchi

Products and services

• M.S. Chellamuthu Institute of Mental Health and Rehabilitation (MSCIMHR) Educational institute offering PhD in Psychology, PhD in Social Work, MSc Psychology, MSW, PG Diploma in Mental Health, and certificate programmes in association with TNOU and Alagappa University; 2,000+ students enrolled.
• Speak2Us Mental Health Helpline Free suicide prevention and emotional support helpline run entirely by trained volunteers, operational 9am to 6pm every day of the week, aimed at creating safe and supportive spaces to change conversations on depression and suicide.
• Care Factory Social enterprise started in 2018 that trains and employs persons recovering from mental illness and various disabilities to produce and sell handmade products including baked goods, designer jute bags, and home needs. Proceeds support trust programs.
• Chellamuthu Gardens 40-acre eco-friendly campus near Alagarkoil temple established as a hub for psychosocial rehabilitation, currently housing 200 residents with capacity for 500. Includes functioning dairy farm, meditation hall, playground, training centers, special education school, and residential quarters.
• Aakash Special School Free special school at Alagarkoil for children with intellectual disabilities. Currently 60 students enrolled, focusing on holistic development through personalized curriculums and therapies. Provides free midday meals and transport.
• Happy Schooling Programme Project funded by HCL Foundation launched in 2018, conducting life skills events, teacher training, and counseling to improve emotional well-being and academic excellence of children in 24 corporation schools in Madurai. Currently supports 11,000+ students.
• De-addiction and Aftercare Programme 30-bed short-term residential facility established in 1995 providing rehabilitation services for persons dependent on alcohol and substances. Includes medical treatment, individual and group counseling, and family therapy. Over 10,000 people have benefited.
• Community Mental Health Programme (CMHP) Community outreach program started in 2000 funded by Andheri Hilfe that takes mental health services to the doorstep of rural households. Has identified and treated persons with mental illness across 650 villages in Madurai, Dindigul, and Ramanathapuram districts.
• Police Wellbeing Programme (Project Magizhchi) Programme launched in 2021 to help police personnel manage workplace stress and lead healthier lives. Under Project Magizhchi (sanctioned 2022), the trust collaborates with NIMHANS to set up a dedicated psychiatric counselling centre in Chennai. 400,000+ police personnel and families have benefited.
• Dava Dua Programme Project designed in 2014 to provide mental health services through faith-based institutions, integrating medical professionals who examine and treat patients in tandem with prayers of faith healers under one roof at dargahs.
• Srishti Residential Centre First project of Chellamuthu Trust started in 1992 at Melur, 13km from Madurai. Started with 2 residents and today serves around 60 residents with rehabilitation, special education, and skill training.
• Telepsychiatry Unit Telepsychiatry unit started in 2013 to extend mental health care to remote villages in Tamil Nadu, enabling remote consultations and treatment follow-up for beneficiaries who cannot access in-person services.

Quantifiable outcome

• 6,00,000 beneficiaries served over 30 years
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• CCRH (Central Council for Research in Homeopathy)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 June 2026CCRH announced a partnership with the Trust to promote a holistic approach for alcohol and drug substance abuse-related mental illnesses. The seminar on 'Homeopathy and mental health' brought together multiple experts to discuss integrating homeopathy with modern medical practices.
• Mariwala Health InitiativemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Mariwala Health Initiative to distribute welfare assistance to women impacted by suicide loss in Madurai district. Organizations collaborated on community-based support programs.
• Ahana HospitalscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerForemost mental health service provider in South India with six state-of-the-art centers in Madurai. Recognized as the first neuropsychiatric hospital to attain NABH accreditation. Strategic partner for comprehensive mental health services.
• M.S. Chellamuthu Institute of Mental Health & RehabilitationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPioneering Mental Health education hub cultivating leaders through hands-on training, driving quality care, and offering diverse research and academic programs. Established in 2008 to bridge gap in mental health professionals.
• Care FactorycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial enterprise started by trustees in 2018 to support vocational training and jobs for persons recovering from Mental Illness. Produces and sells handmade products including baked goods, designer jute bags, and home needs.
• Rotary Districts 3000, 5340 (USA) & 2730 (Japan)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRotary clubs from USA and Japan have launched supportive programs for people with mental illness in 8 districts of southern Tamil Nadu. Programs include awareness programs, free mental healthcare schemes, and vocational training project 'Livelihood training project'. Reached approximately one lakh people.
• Boystown NGOminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided one of their buildings and large campus for a nominal fee to accommodate 50 homeless persons with mental illness at Nilakottai, Dindigul facility since 2015.
• Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (TNVASU)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration launched in 2015 for three-month skill development programme in dairy farming for persons with mental disabilities. Successful candidates eligible for subsidy loan from district administration.
• NIMHANSmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating with NIMHANS to set up dedicated psychiatric counselling centre 'Project Magizhchi' in Chennai for police personnel. Project sanctioned by Tamil Nadu State Home Department in 2022.
• Sathya Sai SamitiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration since 2001 for monthly mental health camps in Sivakasi. Volunteers facilitate medication provision and food, and placement in industrial units upon recovery.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Sangath: Goa-based mental health research and service nonprofit delivering community-based interventions, workforce training, and clinical services. Comparable in combining service delivery, training, and research in Indian mental health, though more research-oriented than Chellamuthu.
• Parivartan Trust: Indian mental health nonprofit recognized for de-addiction and community rehabilitation programs. Recognized alongside Chellamuthu via the Parivartan Award for best practices in mental health, indicating comparable programmatic philosophy.
• The Banyan: Chennai-based nonprofit operating residential and community mental health programs for homeless persons with mental illness across Tamil Nadu. The closest operational and mission-aligned peer to Chellamuthu Trust, sharing the residential-care-plus-reintegration model for marginalized populations.
• Ashadeep: Guwahati-based nonprofit providing mental health rehabilitation, residential care, and community outreach for persons with mental illness. Comparable as a regional Indian nonprofit offering multi-program mental health services to underserved populations.
• SCARF (Schizophrenia Research Foundation): Chennai-based nonprofit dedicated to schizophrenia and mental illness rehabilitation, research, and community care. Operates residential and outpatient programs with similar scope to Chellamuthu's adult mental health services in Tamil Nadu.

Others

• Mariwala Health Initiative: Mumbai-based mental health philanthropy and grant-making organization. Directly comparable as a strategic partner to Chellamuthu (joint suicide-loss initiative in Madurai) and as a funder shaping the Indian mental health nonprofit ecosystem.

Regional players

• Manastha Foundation: Indian nonprofit offering community mental health services and counseling across multiple states. Comparable as a pan-Indian mental health service nonprofit, though focused more on counseling and awareness than residential rehabilitation.

Broad incumbents

• Turning Point: UK-based social enterprise providing mental health and learning disability services including residential care. Comparable as a large-scale, multi-program mental health nonprofit combining residential, community, and clinical services.
• BasicNeeds: International NGO working on mental health and epilepsy in low- and middle-income countries. Comparable as a community-based mental health delivery organization operating across multiple geographies with government partnerships.
• NIMHANS: India's premier government mental health and neuroscience institute. Partner on Project Magizhchi police counseling; comparable as the dominant institutional player in Indian mental health, with significantly greater scale, research capacity, and government backing.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/MsChellamuthuTrustResearchFoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/chellamuthutrust
• Instagraminstagram.com/chellamuthutrust
• Xx.com/MSCTRF

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about M.S. Chellamuthu Trust and Research Foundation