JaiKrishan Jajoo, a renowned philanthropist, has devoted the past two decades doing everything in his power to help better slum children's lives through education. The journey began in 2001, when Jagriti-an NGO that aimed for free quality education for underprivileged children staying in slums was founded. To give these children a life of dignity, Jajoo turned his vision into a sustaining effort now gone on to touch thousands of lives.
Jajoo himself has spent his childhood witnessing the misery of slum children often trapped in the vicious circle of poverty, rag picking, or even begging. Here was an opportunity to change for his benefit at the age of 41. He began with the noble task of adopting schools at Jaipur and Ajmer, laying an onus on improving infrastructure, taking care of learning material, and ensuring that fundamental basics like clean water, proper sanitation, and nutritious mid-day meals were available.
Jagriti has now adopted 21 schools as of 2024, including 21 government and private schools, where approx.. 6000 students receive value education absolutely free of cost. Most of the schools were in poor condition when Jajoo stepped in. They all now have spacious airy classrooms, computer labs, libraries, and playgrounds. Schools not only encourage academic pursuits but also encourage co-curricular activities such as sports and cultural events that may eventually help develop the student holistically.
Jagriti's impact, however, goes beyond classroom walls. Jajoo has always focused on value education, teaching students more than just learning, with such life skills, confidence, and responsibility. Transformation in such schools is reflected in success stories of over 1,500 graduates (29000 have passed), who went to continue higher education or were placed in jobs. Miraculously, some of them came back to these schools as teachers who would again give back to their communities.
Another remarkable feature of Jajoo's work was the power to empower a whole family. As healthy children often go with sound economic conditions in the family, Jajoo initiated the vocational training of women and girls in these slums. These include certified courses in stitching and beauty care, which have helped about 3000 women become financially independent, 12500 have been given training. This programme has been a lifeline for these women and also reduced the incidence of domestic violence and substance abuse in the slums since families became stable and self-dependent. They are able to contribute financially in running of home
Health services also form an integral part of Jajoo's outreach. He conducts regular medical camps and blood donation camps for the children's families at Jagriti schools. One of the unique initiatives is the mobile mortuary service, Antim Darshnika, that brings dignity back to the farewell of loved ones to the families. More than 10,000 families have availed of this free service that has helped promote body and organ donation in Rajasthan. The London World Book of Records has felicitated Jagriti (Mr. J.K. Jajoo) for making a world record for maximum number of mobile mortuary services rendered to the houses of deceased to more than 9000 families free of cost in 13 years
JaiKrishan Jajoo has provided many social services that have not gone unnoticed. He has been honored with many rewards for his social service, such as the National Youth Award in 2018 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Rajasthan government has comprehensively appreciated the work of JaiKrishan Jajoo by awarding him the bhamashah award consecutively for the past 9 years – bhamashah award is given for contributing 1 crore in a govt schoolShiksha Vibhushan Award of 2019, the Highest State Civilian Award for Excellence in 2016, and many Bhamashah Awards due to his efforts for education. International recognition The honoree is also recognized at the international level and was feted by rotary international, Maharaja Sawai Mansingh II Museum Trust among other organizations.
Besides this direct approach to philanthropic work, Jajoo is also an active part of the government and civic causes. He is a member of the High-Power Committees for education and city development of Rajasthan. His work here involves bringing an effective change in the quality of education and converting Jaipur into a world-class city. He has previously headed the Rotary Club Jaipur Midtown as its President and had chaired the Rotary International Education Committee, District 3052 and won many awards too
JaiKrishan Jajoo through Jagriti and his other social initiatives has been able to create a model of sustainable development working on aspects such as education, women's empowerment, and community health. His efforts are, thus, a shining example of what focused philanthropy can do in a person's life and that of the community he is working for, especially when one talks about communities that are bypassed by way of opportunities.
From its beginning as one small act of a difference for a few children in the state of Rajasthan, today it reaches thousands of deprived children, ensuring education as well as the ability to live with dignity and empowerment.
