Established in 1985 by the ORTHODOX SYRIAN CHURCH OF INDIA, in the name of its patron saint, St.Gregorios of Parumala, Balagram is unique in its aim, concept and vision. Located at Yacharam village, 50 kilometres from Hyderabad, India on the Nagarjuna Sagar Highway, Balagram is a home for the healthy male children of leprosy patients and is open to children in the age group of 3 to 15 years irrespective of cast, creed or religion.
The project aims to wean the healthy male children of leprosy patients so that the disease does not spread to the succeeding generations due to constant contact and consequent infection. Thus as the primary means of infection is curbed, the dream of eradication of leprosy becomes a reality. With miles to go this project is a small step towards that larger goal.
In 1985 The Orthodox Church purchased 30 acres of land at Yacharam. A small shed was erected at the site and on 8th of March 1987 five children were admitted to the Balagram. The day is historically significant . It was on this day two thousand years ago that Jesus Christ of Nazareth preached the Gospel to the lepers, touched and healed them and thus broke the age-old Jewish Law that segregated the lepers as untouchables.
The Balagram is run under the guidance of H.G.Geevarghese Mar Osthathios Metropolitan and the able supervision of Very Rev. K.I.Philip Ramban as the Director who has over a quarter century of experience in the service of the poor and needy. He is ably assisted by Very Rev.Fr.George Modiyil Cor Episcopa who serves as the Manager and a team of committed volunteers.
Today Balagram houses over 100children from Rajasthan in the north to Kerala in the south. It offers all basic facilities including education and medical aid free of cost to the children for their development as individuals useful to the society and the country. Among other things dormitories as well as kitchen and mess hall that can accommodate over 200 children has been built.
A Dairy Farm has been setup with the assistance of Rotary International which provides the milk needed for the inmates.
Balagram has taken a lead in community development activity in the area. It has set up the most modern Eye Hospital with the technical assistance of International Centre for Advancement of Rural Eye Care belonging to L.V.Parsad Eye Institute, a world renowned eye hospital of Hyderabad. The hospital is operational from July 2001.
A major lacunae of the project has been overcome with the opening of St.George Balikagram, Pune for the female children of leprosy patients.
Our sister institutions and projects include St.Paul's Balagram at Itarsi and Kalahandi Development Projects in Kalahandi and St.Gregorios Daya Bhavan at Tumkur for healthy children of AIDS patients, which again is a first for the Orthodox Church.
The unique aspect of all these projects is that these projects are mainly funded by voluntary contributions from individuals. All contributions are eligible for deduction under Section 80G of the Indian Income Tax Act.
The future beckons us. The Technical Training Centre, the foundation stone for which was laid by H.H. Baselios Marthoma Mathews II in 2002 is yet to take shape. The facilities at Balagram also have to be expanded to accommodate more children. There is the need for daily sustenance since Balagram is still not self supporting. And we look forward to opening more similar centres, at least one centre each in all the states of our vast country. Balagram also has plans to set up a Terminal Care Centre at Yacharam to provide a peaceful place for terminally ill patients and old men and women in their last days.
We are confident that the Good Lord who hath provided so far shall continue to do so through His Children.
