Dr.(Mrs.) T.S. Soundaram established the Gandhigram Institute of Rural Health and Family Welfare Trust in 1964 as an outcome of her successful experiences in the Pilot Health Project in Athoor block during 1959-64. Adopting the concept of Gandhian constructive programs in its delineation of its activities, the project pioneered Community Health Education as the promising concept to stabilize the Health and Family Welfare conditions of the Nation. These pioneering initiatives prompted the Government of Tamil Nadu, Government of India and Ford Foundation to recognize the project as an Institution in the year 1964.

The objectives of the Institute are formulated and reformulated to address the National Health and Family Welfare programs of the Government