Dr Jaya’s modest beginnings are certainly what made her to give those in need a hope for a second chance at a healthy and normal life. Her parents did not have much of an education, and were faced with the daunting task of raising nine children of which Jaya was the eldest.
Both her parents, though under-educated, pushed their children to learn and believe in themselves. The family struggled,but moved by her parents efforts and direction she blossomed into a great student who went to medical school. Jaya went from being a poor student to receiving academic honors and eventually attending medical school at London (College name).
Jaya became a resident doctor at Catherine Booth Hospital, then at Gopala Pillai Hospital in nagercoil.
In 1981 Jaya received an important opportunity to work in the Defence Hospital, then the government Hospital, Bahrain.The choice to work at these three hospitals became one of the most significant decisions of her career. For Jaya, her experience in Bahrain was invaluable, because at that time it was a country without enough doctors with her training. She gained several years’ worth of experience in a short time. In her time there she got so much surgical experience that her skills were honed tremendously, and she felt remarkably capable and comfortable working with pregnant mothers. Then almost after two decades in Bahrain she returned to India and observed that most Indians could not afford tertiary and specialty healthcare. One of the biggest reasons for them falling below the poverty line is an illness in the family. There was so much medical need there and immediate help was required. This is what inspired her to immediately setup a hospital and began treating pregnant mothers and those who needed medical care.
Dr. Jaya was often approached by people in need of some financial assistance to solve the basic problems of living.As Dr learned more about the hardships and deprivation faced by the people there, she started to devise ways to address their problems. She humbly began JK Foundation, by helping those in need with a little support but with lots of encouragement. By 2014, JK Foundation developed distinctive projects and became more organised. A constant theme of her work over the years has been the importance of education, healthcare and to help the women and children to take much greater control of their lives.
