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Jiyo Parsi Scheme
Context:
The Parzor Foundation discontinued its participation in the Jiyo Parsi scheme following the government’s decision to implement direct beneficiary transfers.
Jiyo Parsi Scheme:
- It is a central sector scheme launched in 2013-14 by the Ministry of Minority Affairs.
- Objective: Reverse the declining Parsi population in India through scientific protocols and structured interventions.
- The scheme has three main components:
- Advocacy: includes counselling of couples with fertility, marriage, family and elderly counselling including workshops on relationship parenting, drug awareness etc.
- Health of Community: management, Includes creche/child care support, senior citizen honorarium for child care, assistance to elderly etc.
- Medical Assistance: includes Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART) which also includes In-vitro Fertilisation and Intra Cytoplasmic Injection (ICS) and other modes including surrogacy.
- Scheme Period: It will continue from FY 2021-22 to FY 2025-26, with a total budgetary provision of Rs. 50 crore.
- The financial assistance under the scheme is provided to beneficiaries through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode after biometric authentication and verification by respective State Governments.
- Implementation: The scheme would be implemented by the State Governments with the assistance of selected Parsi Punchayet/Anjumans/Agiaries.
- Achievements: Since inception, the scheme has enabled the birth of more than 400 Parsi children so far.
Parsi Community:
- The Parsi community follows Zoroastrianism, one of the world’s oldest monotheistic religions, founded by Prophet Zoroaster in ancient Iran around the 6th-7th century.
- Zoroastrians believe in one God, Ahura Mazda (Wise Lord), who created the world. Their holy scripture is the Avesta.
- They worship communally in a Fire Temple or Agiary, where fire represents God’s light or wisdom, not as an object of worship.
- The Parsi community in India celebrates Nowruz (Navroz), the Iranian New Year, on March 21.
- It is a notified minority community under the National Commission of Minorities Act 1992.
SCHEMES / PROGRAMMES / INITIATIVES UNDERTAKEN BY MINISTRY OF MINORITY AFFAIRS FOR WELFARE OF MINORITIES:
- Educational Empowerment: Nai Udaan, Padho Pardesh, etc.
- Area / Infrastructure Development: Multi-sectoral Development Programme (MsDP)
- Economic Empowerment: Seekho Aur Kamao’ (Learn & Earn), Upgrading Skill and Training in Traditional Arts/Crafts for Development (USTTAD), Nai Manzil.
- Women Empowerment: ‘Nai Roshni’- Scheme for Leadership Development of minority women
- Special Needs: Hamari Dharohar – To preserve rich heritage and culture of minorities and Jiyo Parsi Scheme.