The Gandhigram Institute of Rural Health and Family Welfare Trust (GIRH&FWT) was established in the year 1964 by Dr. T.S. Soundram Ramachandran, with support from Government of Tamil Nadu, Government of India and Ford Foundation. The Institute derived its strategies from the experiences of a Pilot Health Project implemented in a Athoor block during 1959-64 called the Athoor Experiment.

Realizing that healthy living status of the community can improve economic status and improve quality of life, the institute improves the community health through its innovative strategies. All of these strategies emphasize education in health and family welfare in the rural areas through training, research and service programs.