The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Godrej employees voluntarily supported 150 families in the Tsunami stricken Pallayar (in Nagapattinam district) and Azhikal (in Kanyakumari district) by providing fishing equipment, boats, engines etc., funding a community health center and providing skill based training to 200 residents. A sum of over Rs. 56 L was handed over to CII.
Crematorium for animals
Shocked by the horrifying conditions of the dilapidated incinerator at Bombay Veterinary College, where Naval Godrej’s pet labrador was cremated, he sponsored the very first electric crematorium at the Bai Sakarbai Dinshaw Petit Hospital for animals at Parel, the first non-polluting crematorium of its kind in Asia.
Table for Two
Godrej instituted the Indian chapter of ‘Table For Two’ initiative at the World Economic Forum’s India Economic Summit in December 2008. This initiative is targeted at addressing hunger and malnutrition in the developing world by combining the organization’s tradition of serving society and involvement of individuals.
Godrej pledged to collect funds that would be utilized to provide school children mid-day meals. The fund was created in three ways. Firstly, a ‘healthy meal’ option was provided in the canteen menus to the employees. The savings from the reduced use of oil and sugar were diverted to the central pool of funds for the ‘Table For Two’ initiative. This means that each time an employee ordered a ‘healthy meal’, the savings contributed to this fund and provided Godrejites with an even healthier alternative for lunch. Secondly, Godrejites voluntarily contributed a fixed monthly amount to the fund. Thirdly, the contribution from the ‘healthy meals’ menu was matched by Godrej and effectively combined corporate and employee participation.
The initiative has been a great success within the first few months of its inception – with a sizeable fund that is geared to feeding close to 780 school children and providing for 1,56,000 meals annually.
Family Planning
Godrej has been connected with the Family Planning Foundation, which is a voluntary organisation devoted to promote Family Planning as a basic human right, as well as population Policies which can help bring about a balanced development of the resources of the country-both human and material - as a means towards raising the quality of life. ‘Pragati Kendra’ imparts not only information regarding Family Planning but, through various social and cultural activities, provides for a better quality of life for the inhabitants of the township.
A Family Planning Centre was opened in September 1957. Family Planning advice and conventional contraceptives at concessional rates were provided. Family Planning Exhibitions were held. A Vasectomy Centre was opened. Volunteers were trained in an intensive one-week orientation course. Incentives are offered to persons undergoing vasectomy and tubectomy operations. In 1965 a Research Centre was opened with the help of Dr. R. P. Soonawala and the Ford Foundation authorities. To give fillip to the family Planning Programme, the services of two American Peace Corps volunteers were engaged.
The Family Planning Programme is an integral part of the “Family Welfare Programme". A ‘Well Baby Clinic’ has been opened for giving advice to mothers about their children's health and hygiene as also for advising them about IUCD and oral contraceptives. About 1135 children have been treated so far at this clinic. This long-standing Family Planning programme has definitely been able to lift workers into the middle-class, at least at Godrej.