Jeeva Jyothi was founded in 1994 primarily with the objective of protecting and promoting the rights of street and working children in north Chennai. The initial focus was on elimination of child labour and child beggary.

North Chennai is the most backward in terms of development and infrastructure. Street and working children were found to be plenty in north Chennai. Their existence manifest the naked reality of Poverty sickness and exploitation. Life on the street is miserable beyond comprehension. Jeeva Jyothi wanted to respond to the cry of despair of these children to live with human dignity.