Our Story
The story of this foundation begins with the story of a single mother - Smt. Jayalakshmi
She was a bright young village girl, the daughter of a Sanskrit scholar, one of seven children. When her father passed away, everything changed. She was forced to leave school to help her mother earn enough to feed the family and keep her younger siblings in school.
Life never stopped testing her. Married to a man she had never met, she soon found herself abandoned, left to survive in conditions of extreme poverty. Two of her children died from malnutrition before she could save them. Only one son survived — and for him, she kept going.
Her brothers stepped in to help — giving her food, shelter, and the dignity of a fresh start. That was her turning point. She started small, failed often, learned fast, and built a home business with her own hands. It didn’t make her rich, but it gave her something far greater: stability, self-respect, and the strength to stand on her own.
And her son is our founder Hariharan Iyer, who began this organization as a tribute to his mother.
This is her story, but not her story alone
Across India, millions of women walk the same road she once did — single mothers carrying invisible burdens with quiet strength. Some, like her, find a way to rise. Many others just need a hand to hold, to offer a little support so they can find their footing again.
The Smt. Jayalakshmi Memorial Single Mother Foundation was born to be that hand —inspired by one story, but created for countless others.
Her journey mirrors the three pillars of our foundation today
We walk with every single mother, easing her immediate struggles through unconditional financial support, guiding her to access government welfare, and providing sustainable livelihood support tailored to her reality, so she can build something of her own.
Step by step, she regains confidence, independence, and self-worth. She earns a sustainable income of ₹10,000 or more per month and creates a safe, nurturing, and dignified future for her children.
