Bala Mandir Kamaraj Trust (BMKT) hosted the Second Memorial Oration on the 18th of July, 2026 at the Bala Mandir Cultural Centre, Chennai, celebrating the vision of Air Vice-Marshal (Retd.) V. Krishnaswamy VSM and Mrs. Jaya Krishnaswamy. The event convened educators, professionals, parents, and disability advocates to advance dialogue on disability inclusion and early intervention.
Delivering the keynote address on “From Care to Confidence: Empowering Parents, Enabling Children”, Mrs. Poonam Natarajan, Founder and Chairperson of Vidya Sagar, emphasized: “Preparing children with disabilities for adult life begins with quality early intervention, inclusive education, and recognizing parents as the true experts in their children’s lives.” She urged society to focus on each child’s strengths, dismantle misconceptions surrounding disabilities, and nurture self-esteem.
Paying tribute to Mrs. Jaya Krishnaswamy, Ms. V. R. P. Sheilaja Rao, Former Head of Special Education at NIEPID, highlighted her pioneering contributions, including the creation of the Upanayan Assessment Scale and the Bala Mandir MNC Upanayan Model of Early Intervention – now foundational across all District Early Intervention Centres (DEICs) in Tamil Nadu.
Looking ahead, Mrs. Maya Gaitonde, Honorary General Secretary of BMKT, announced that the Bala Mandir Madhuram Narayanan Centre (BMMNC) will expand its network by uniting parents, teachers, professionals, and associations, while proactively reaching out to families in their own communities. “We must strengthen support systems for families of children with disabilities and ensure they feel empowered, not isolated.”
The programme also featured a panel discussion on “Lived Experiences by Parents of Children with Special Needs”, moderated by Ms. Saritha PR, Director of Operations and Head of Digitalisation, Mirra Charitable Trust, where parents shared personal journeys, challenges, and successes.
The event concluded with a Parental Empowerment Workshop, equipping families with practical strategies to support their children’s growth and independence.
