At an event hosted by the Ministry of Minority Affairs, celebrating the spirit of ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat’, on 29th February, 2024, Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani, the Union Minister for Minority Affairs and Women and Child Development, announced the launch of a revamped ‘Jiyo Parsi’ programme with improved guidelines, as well as the development of a ‘Centre for Avesta-Pahlavi Studies’, at the Mumbai University, as per a media statement.

Held at the Delhi Parsi Anjuman auditorium, the event was chaired by Smriti Irani and was aimed at honouring the legacy of Zoroastrians in India by adopting a comprehensive approach to successfully interact with the Parsi community representatives, thereby showcasing the effective steps taken by the government towards the overall welfare of this micro-minority. The event was attended by Vada Dasturji Khurshed Dastur, High Priest of the Shreeji Pak Iranshah Atashbehram, Udvada; Er. Parvez Bajan; John Barla – Minister of State for Ministry of Minority Affairs; BPP Trustee – Dr. Adil Malia and other Zoroastrian dignitaries and representatives from various Parsi organisations across India.

Key insights were shared, highlighting various support services from containing the population decline to the revival of the Avesta-Pahlavi language. Smriti Irani highlighted the importance of the revival of languishing languages, especially those related to notified minority communities. The event witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, between the University of Mumbai and the Ministry of Minority Affairs, to develop ‘Centre for Avesta-Pahlavi Studies’ at Mumbai University. Bearing a close affinity to Sanskrit, the ancient and sacred Avesta-Pahlavi is the language of the Zoroastrian scriptures.

Focusing on the increasing demand and need for reviving the language not only as a subject for higher education but also to preserve the learnings of the Parsi Zoroastrian culture, this initiative seeks to revive and develop the language in Mumbai University, after an earlier existing department for the language was discontinued 21 years ago, by setting up of ‘The Centre for Avesta-Pahlavi Studies’.

Not many may be aware after the discontinuation of this language course by MU, a 7-member team comprising Dr. Adil Malia, Er. Parvez Bajan, Er. Cyrus Darbari, Shiraz Kapadia, Shirin Contractor, Meher Contractor and Dr. Daruwalla took it upon themselves to revive the program. Over 12 meetings, they finally succeeded in convincing MU’s Director IDOL (Institute of Distance and Open Learning) and the Vice Chancelor, which finally culminated in setting up of this Chair.

The Ministry of Minority Affairs in collaboration with Mumbai University aims to establish the centre and required infrastructure for undertaking certificate courses, diploma courses, and PhD programmes, with an investment of about Rs. 11.20 crore. The funds will go towards establishing a language lab, multimedia studio and ancillary infrastructure for the study centre. Students will be able to learn about Avesta Pahlavi grammar and vocabulary, literature, historical background, scripts and writing systems, translation and philological analysis, semantics and dictionaries, ancient Iranian history and civilization, Avesta Pahlavi epigraphy and palaeography, inscriptions and manuscripts.

Improved guidelines of the ‘Jiyo Parsi’ scheme were also launched. The implementation of the scheme, through the involvement of State Governments and Parsi organisations, would facilitate better outreach in the community and improve its pan-India coverage. The scheme provides financial benefits to beneficiaries through Direct Benefit Transfers (DBT). In a message shared on social media, Dr. Adil Malia, who attended the event, informed of the increasing concern about the community’s worrisome declining demographics over the years, and that the Government, adding to the effectivity of the Jiyo Parsi Scheme, had set up two Impact Assessment Teams through the ‘International Institute Of Population Sciences (IIPS) and Tata Institute Of Social Sciences. The revised guidelines of the Jiyo Parsi Scheme were based on recommendations from these studies.

“The revised Jiyo Parsi Scheme explains with clarity its objectives, covers identification of the Target Group and provides clarity on its Methodology through 3 components of its multi-pronged approach – Medical Assistance, Health of the Community and Advocacy. The Scheme has its own control mechanism comprising District Level Committee, State Level Project Management Committee, a Sanctioning Committee, and an Oversight Committee. It will now will implemented by the State Governments, with the assistance of selected Parsi Punchayets, Anjumans and Agiaries. Transfer of funds, under various components, will now be made directly into the accounts of beneficiaries. The Scheme will be reviewed at the end of the 15^th Finance Commission period and a mid-term review of the Scheme will be undertaken by the Ministry of Minority Affairs,” Dr. Malia informed.

Smriti Irani also talked about the mode of assistance under the Jiyo Parsi scheme and urged Parsi organisation representatives to spread greater awareness of the scheme within the community. She said young Parsis needed more training in ethnic skills and encouraged entrepreneurship, which would receive financial aid by the ministry.

Launched in 2013-14, Jiyo Parsi is central sector scheme, aimed at arresting the Parsi population decline by adopting a scientific protocol and structured interventions.