On 29^th January, 2025, the Ministry of Minority Affairs (GoI), conducted a workshop on the Jiyo Parsi Scheme which is aimed at arresting the population decline of Parsis in India, at Kabilpore in Navsari. Chief Guest, Alok Kumar Verma – Deputy Director General, Ministry of Minority Affairs, presided over the workshop; alongside NCMA’s (National Commission for Minorities Act) former VC, Kersi Deboo and Deputy Director Developing Caste Welfare, Gujarat – J A Vadhvana, and their team. Also present were Er. Tehemton Mirza – Vada-Dasturji of the Udvada Iranshah Atash Behram and Dara Deboo, Trustee of Navsari Anjuman.

The schemes current new features and online functionality options were addressed, as also challenges faced by beneficiaries of the Jiyo Parsi scheme. Alok Kumar Verma then held a direct interaction with over 100 beneficiaries, who had turned up from Navsari, Valsad, Surat, Vyara and South Gujarat. He and Kersi Deboo requested community members to take greater interest in the scheme via discourse and suggestions, so it could be bettered.

Many beneficiaries also got an opportunity to register some long-standing grievances directly with the Government officials to look into their individual cases. Representing WZO Navsari, Trustees Aspi Ambapardiwala, Rohinton Contractor, Cyrus Vandriwala, and WZO Administrator – Sharmin Tamboli provided noteworthy insights. A link dedicated to resolving beneficiary grievance will soon be shared. Certain parameters that should be met by beneficiaries were also discussed.

In the closing address, Dr. Hiren Savaliya from GOI Gandhinagar, who has been working closely with the minorities program, stated, “Parsis have always stood for India, it is time that India stands for Parsis, to secure the future of such a beautiful and true community within the Indian subcontinent.”