This project provided educational opportunities for children of rag picker families in Delhi by establishing community-based schools that promote learning, social development, and access to formal education.

The Indian Pollution Control Association (IPCA) has been working for many years to improve the living conditions, health, education, and social well-being of rag picker communities and their families. With support from India Development Service (IDS), a special initiative was launched to provide educational opportunities for children living and working in waste collection settlements across the Delhi region. The project established schools within the “godowns” (warehouses) where rag picker families live and work, making education more accessible to children who would otherwise have limited opportunities to attend school. Initially, two schools were set up in the Noida area. Following a fire and changes in lease agreements, the schools were successfully relocated to Ghaziabad and Okhla to continue serving the children without interruption. Recognizing the financial challenges faced by these families, the schools operated on a half-day schedule, allowing children to receive an education while minimizing the loss of income that full-time attendance could create for their households. The program focused on developing literacy, life skills, moral values, and social responsibility among students while encouraging regular school attendance. A key objective of the project was to prepare children for successful integration into the government education system. Through community-based learning and consistent educational support, the initiative helped create pathways for underserved children to access formal education and improve their future opportunities. The project began as a pilot initiative with plans to expand the network of schools from two to five, then to ten, and eventually to establish a school in each godown community, creating a sustainable educational support system for vulnerable children across the region.