Bombay

Up until today, what we had seen of Indian education was not encouraging--33 million children between 6 and 10 not in school, huge classes for those who are, and minimum investment in schools in general. On the 15th of July we arrived at Godrej, an industrial giant which provides not only housing for its employess but education for their children as well. Godrej is a vast, family-owned corporation which makes everything from soap to safes. India-wide, it employees 17,000 people. Here in Bombay, it has 12,000 employees and houses everyone except contract workers (those who do menial tasks like sweeping). Factory workers get apartments with two rooms, a kitchen and bathroom; while managers get three rooms, kitchen and bathroom. Directors get comfortable bungalows. All accommodations are nestled in attractive native greenery. Driving from Bombay to the Godrej complex is an exercise in extremes. The contrast between the squalor outside the walls and the comfort inside is striking.

Godrej is run by Pirojsha Godrej, the son of the company's founder, Ardeshir Godrej, who started small, with locks. Pirojsha Godrej is a not only an entrepreneur, but a committed environmentalist. He believes that India cannot survive without a drastic reduction in its population. He also believes that India has to educate its children. Meshing these goals, he has developed a remarkable education program for his workers.

Children of factory workers, children of managers, and children of directors all go to school together in large, attractive, well-ventilated classrooms. Three levels of schooling are provided: Pre-primary, Primary, and Secondary. Children at all levels learn sports, art, music and computer skills taught by exceptionally well-educated and dedicated teachers. Pre-primary classes call to mind the Montessori method. In the primary classes the arts are evident everywhere, and the art materials are all recycled from various factory leftovers.

The cost of the education is Rs750 per child. Parents pay Rs100 a month of this cost and the rest is subsidized by the company. Salary levels are designed to cover the school payments. So what's the catch? This is where Godrej imposes his commitment to population control. No employee may send more than two children to the school, and, with the entry of the second child into the school, it is necessary that one parent undergo sterilization. This is one man's attempt to make a difference in India.

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