On 25^th September, 2024, Mumbai and Maharashtra-based community members, participated in the Indian Minorities Foundation (IMF)’s fortnight-long ‘Sewa Pakhwada’ event celebrating PM Shri Narendra Modi’s 74^th birthday. Many prominent members of the Parsi community including Maneck Dastoor and Khojeste Mistree graced the event, partaking in the PM’s ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ initiative, honouring Mother Earth by planting saplings.

Wishing PM Modi a long and healthy life and lauding India’s progress under his governance, many community members also expressed gratitude for his leadership which granted much assistance and support to the Parsi Community. Former BPP Trustee, Khojeste Mistree, praised the spirit of Indian secularity and expressed delight that the government had recognised the immense contribution of the Parsi community in every field.

Gratitude was also expressed for granting shelter and Indian citizenship to community members being persecuted abroad, or living in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and other countries, thanks to the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). Appreciation was also expressed for due recognition rendered to the community’s contribution to India’s development, by bestowing over 10 Padma Awards; for the GoI’s initiatives like the Jiyo Parsi Scheme aimed at increasing the dwindling Parsi population and for other loans and scholarships empowering the youth. They pledged their support in helping realise his vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047.

Throwing light on the Jiyo Parsi Scheme launched in 2014 by Prime Minister Modi, Satnam Singh Sandhu – IMF convener, spoke about its success as well as the launch of the Jiyo Parsi scheme Portal which would enable more Parsi Couples to partake of the scheme by applying online, and receiving financial assistance digitally.

Jiyo Parsi Scheme counsellor, Pearl Misty, shared that 4,054 Parsi women had benefitted from the Govt’s ‘Lakhpati Didi Yojana’ and an amount of Rs. 22 crore has been released under the ‘Jiyo Parsi Yojana’ for the community’s welfare. She informed that Parsi couples with annual family income under 10 lakhs, who have elderly members in their family, were provided financial assistance. She lauded all the support extended to the Parsi community, on its behalf.