A valve company was set up by Dr Jal Mehta and various Parsee folk to provide employment to the leprosy affected people living around Khondwa on the outskirts of Pune. For 30 years, until Dr Mehta died, the company was run philanthropically through the kindness of Mr Poonawalla himself and other well-wishers. After Dr Mehta died, the company was turned into a co-operative and the absence of leadership caused it to suffer and begin making losses.
In March, 2008, the SPAN Trust was approached for assistance in reviving the company before things went too bad. Because the co-operative members had heard about God’s blessing on the Box Factory, they readily agreed to our terms and conditions and gave us considerable authority to run the company.
Our involvement started at the end of May, although the management contract was only signed a month later. We have seen many incremental improvements since working together. Various delays were eliminated and other procedures streamlined. A new machine, idle since its purchase in March, 2007, has been brought into life and it is now boring the discs consistently and accurately.
