Razvin Namdarian

The Ministry of Minority Affairs (MOMA) organised an interactive session with the Parsi community, chaired by Kiren Rijiju, Union Minister of Minority Affairs, on 14^th September, 2024, at the Yashwantrao Chavan Centre, in Mumbai. The occasion was also graced by George Kurian – Minister of State for MOMA, Kersi K. Deboo – Vice-Chairperson, National Commission for Minorities, Abdul Sattar – Minister of Minorities Development, GoI and Iqbal Singh Lalpura – Chairman; alongside BPP Trustees. BPP Chairman – Viraf Mehta felicitated the dignitaries with shawls. A Jiyo Parsi workshop was also conducted by Richa Shankar, Deputy Director General.

Addressing the gathering of community members, Kiren Rijiju spoke of the measures taken by the GoI in terms of medical healthcare and financial assistance for childcare and elderly-care to Parsi couples to augment the population of the Parsi community. He lauded the community’s contribution to the nation, “The Parsis have enriched our nation’s progress significantly. Parsis are a hard-working, learned community and need support from the government. If we want Bharat to progress, we need more Parsis. With this initiative, we aim to foster new horizons, where Parsis can play an important role in the future.”

The workshop conducted by Richa Shankar brough to the fore the objectives of the Jiyo Parsi Scheme and how the central government would be taking it forward. The Jiyp Parsi scheme was launched when the census figures revealed an alarming decline in the Parsi population – from 1,14,000, in 1941 to only 57,264, in 2011. The aim was to use scientific technology to reverse the decline. She shared a brief overview of the Scheme’s key elements which were revamped and the inclusion of the state governments and the Parsi Panchayats to increase awareness and outreach of the scheme and its three main components, as under:

1. Under Medical Componentof the scheme, financial assistance is provided to Parsi Couples for medical treatment under standard medial protocol;
2. Under Health of Community Component, financial assistance is provided to Parsi Couples for child care and assistance of elderly people; and
3. Under Advocacy Component, advocacy/outreach programs are conducted to generate awareness amongst Parsis.

A presentation to increase awareness about loans, primarily for education and entrepreneurship, available at concessional rates from the National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation (NMDFC) was also shown. The Parsi community was made aware of loans for as low as 3% interest rate (for those from low-income families) for education in domestic institutions, up to Rs. 20 lakhs.  Unfortunately, no Parsis so far availed of the same.

Kersi Deboo, Vice-Chairperson, National Commission for Minorities, addressed the audience in Hindi, in commemoration of ‘Hindi Diwas’ being celebrated across the nation on 14^th September. He said, “The Parsi community is always in step with the nation.” Lauding the government for initiating the Jiyo Parsi scheme in 2015, he said that it had stagnated over the past few years and needed to be revived. “While 400 Parsi children had been the fruitful outcome of the scheme, we still need an average birth rate of 2.5 children per couple to stem the population decline. The government is giving their full support but the community needs to step up too,” he added.

Echoing his sentiments, Richa Shankar said, “We are merely the catalysts. We encourage Parsis via this scheme but the young generation needs to be made aware from within the community, that saving the community is the need of the hour.”

The Q&A session brought up some interesting issues which could not be immediately redressed but are being considered by the central government. For instance, BPP Chairman Viraf Mehta, requested that the Centre consider ensuring reservation of a few seats for Parsis, at least in those institutions which have been funded and established by the Parsis. Given the constant shrinking number of open seats available to students, this was a strong concern for parents when they consider having more children. In addition, the centre’s third child rule, which renders anyone having more than three children born after 2002 ineligible for any government job or post, is in direct contradiction to the Jiyo Parsi scheme, which encourages Parsis couples to have more children. Hence, steps should be taken to exempt Parsi/Zoroastrians from the same. Some beneficiaries, under the scheme, were concerned that disbursal of funds had not been forthcoming since months. Richa Shankar assured everyone about their queries being resolved once the team had ascertained each issue.

It was, all in all, an informative interaction and one hopes that our Parsi community and in particular, our youth, will understand the gravity and pay heed to PM Modi’s government’s aim: ‘Khoob badho, aur Jiyo Parsi!’