It may be pleasing news for the members of the Parsi community that many of the newly-wed young Parsi women are in the family way in Surat, which has a population of 3,500 of the total 90,000 Parsis in the country.
Worried over the dwindling numbers of the Parsis, the Surat Parsi Panchayat had come up with a unique scheme sometime ago of allotting flats to the needy couples of the community so that they concentrated on increasing their population without bothering about issues like housing.
Of the 31 couples, who were given flats, many of them reportedly will see an addition in their families, community sources said, adding that encouraged by the results of the scheme, the panchayat is slated to launch a Rs 2.5 crore 40-flat project at Sherdiwala area in the city. Of the 40 flats, 16 will be provided to young Parsi couples and the remaining to those whose monthly income is below Rs 15,000. These couples will be given the flats at a nominal rent of Rs 200 per month.
Darayas Master, president, Surat Parsi Panchayat, said those youths who have married outside the community are not eligible and also the flats are not transferrable. These flats are panchayat property and have to be returned to it on being vacated. For the couples to get the flats, they will have to produce proper proof of their marriage. We give the keys of the flat to the couple a week before their marriage so that they can settle down immediately."
He said, "We see light at the end of this tunnel. One of the main reasons for many Parsi youth not marrying is economic constraints. So we thought we will help them start a life by giving them a house. We have willing donors and so there are no problems."
Yazdi Karanjia, a well-known stage personality of the city, said, "We give a two-room, kitchen flat to those couples who marry within the community. This support of the house to the young couples will surely be of help in increasing the number of Parsis."
Excellent work, truly commendable.Lessons for others to follow, instead of creating senseless controversies.
Keep it up.S.P.P.
“Youths who have married outside the community are not eligible”
I am extrimley happy to read such clause, every panchayat should learn from this and follow it.
Terrific–Let’s keep the kids on a short leash,so they will breed as we hope. God,this is shameful.Vulture breeding,Parsee breeding,under tightly controlled conditions. Will Panchayat check the women for proof of their virginity as well?
my hearty thanks to surat parsi panchayat for this great initiative.I greatly appreciate the step and some one come forward to do something which was my concern and i always express this in my many comments earlier.
keep it up i would like to see parsi families to grow in years to come and i would be happiest person if this happen.
wellwisher of parsi brother and sisters.
rajesh chouhan pune
“Youths who have married outside the community are not eligible” , lolz Picture perfect, now I know why most of the time the liberals are jealous…
Well but on a serious note, its a good endeavor…..
Great news.
One just cannot follow why some persons have to criticize for sake of criticism as Shippywallah has done. When Trustees of Surat Parsi Punchayat are doing something concrete for the benefit and welfare of community members even then they are being pulled down.
In to-days situation can we expect youngsters earning a monthly salary of Rs. 15,000 – 20.000/ to be in a position to purchase a house on their own. Everybody is not that lucky to inherit a separate house from their fathers, mothers or grand parents. And if there is no privacy for a newly married couple, fertility goes down. In the past in joint family we had large houses. Not so now.This is the right step in right direction.
I ask a question, why is divorce rate in the community increasing? The single most cause is the proverbial mother in law as seen in T.V. serials and our community is no exception. The mother in law after ruling for 25 years over her husband finds a new ‘bakra’ to persecute. They insist on seclusion to be observed during ‘those days’ or the daughter in law has to stay at her maternal place for those many days. Surat Parsi Punchayat is doing a fine job compared to “Elected” BPP Trustees. Surat Trustees do not require drum beaters and tom tomming thru paid sponsored advertisements in Rs1/newspaper to show their achievements. Proof of the pudding is in the eating and Surat Trustees have shown that way. Whereas BPP Trustees are busy dealing in ‘more important’ things like creating causes for inviting court cases and then blame the petitioners for putting the Trust in ‘avoidable legal expenses’. So at the end of next five years they have a ready excuse ‘We wanted to do this and we wanted to implement that project but due to court cases we got no time’
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Its a good decision. But its a sad day, that our community has come to this. What next, will we in reservations one day? like the native americans? Until we get over our differences, and our identity crisis, the problem of dwindling parsis wont be resolved easily. Some parsis don’t even think they are indian, especially in mumbai.
I’m very pleased to hear about the good work done for the community in Surat.Let the other punchayats follow.
Other parsi Anjumans should give such attractive schemes and packages.
A big bravo to SPP, keep the good work going!
For the information of those who are unaware &/or those who choose to turn a blind eye to the fact that parsis in india are considered a treasured minority, here is a subtle reminder – minorities do have a constitutional right to protect and thereby make reservations on grounds of ethnicity.
I recollect that there was a tall promise made at the time of BPP elections that dilapidated buildings in Navroze Baug would be re developed and the complex would have a swimming pool etc.As more than one and half year have passed after elections and to the best of my knowledge there is no court case in this regard. So what is the excuse or was the promise an electoral gimmick?
Affulent people of communities should come together and invest in such projects which will help bring up their own people.It is a good work for the community which also makes good bonding within themselves. This should extend for the education also.
I AM SO PROUD of my childhood friend Darayas Master & my teacher Mr. Yazdi Karnjia.. I am originaly from Nanpura, Surat (Mr. Barjorji D. Daruwalla,Lawyer’s daughter). Presently residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA..mobile no..(215) 805-6809… Keep up the “GOOD WORK”. May Dadar Hormazad bless you all with his choicest blessings… What a nice thought…We need more Parsi/Zoroastrians LIKE YOU GUYS!!!!!! CHAi YE HAME ZAROTHOSTI…….ahmen.
I AM SO PROUD of my childhood friend Darayas Master & my teacher Mr. Yazdi Karnjia.. I am originaly from Nanpura, Surat (Mr. Barjorji D. Daruwalla,Lawyer’s daughter). Presently residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA..mobile no..(215) 805-6809… Keep up the “GOOD WORK”. May Dadar Hormazad bless you all with his choicest blessings… What a nice thought…We need more Parsi/Zoroastrians LIKE YOU GUYS!!!!!! CHAi YE HAME ZAROTHOSTI…….ahmen.
After leaving Aden in 1967, I lived with my family for 22 years at Panchayat owned “Dabhoi Villa”, at Athoogar Street, Nanpura, Surat, which does not exist any more. In those days the SPP Trustees did not seem to attend to the needs of the community though they had all the resources required. On the contrary they were hell bent on selling the lands and properties to non-Parsis. If progress to improve the demographic situation was made at that time, by now our community would have increased tremendously. Living in London now, I am so glad to know that the present honest and trustworthy SPP Trustees planned so well and worked hard for the increase in our community. CONGRATULATIONS.
Hope Parsi Panchayats and other leaders of the community unite and concentrate how to increase our population quickly.
After leaving Aden in 1967, I lived with my family for 22 years at Panchayat owned “Dabhoi Villa”, at Athoogar Street, Nanpura, Surat, which does not exist any more. In those days the SPP Trustees did not seem to attend to the needs of the community though they had all the resources required. On the contrary they were hell bent on selling the lands and properties to non-Parsis. If progress to improve the demographic situation was made at that time, by now our community would have increased tremendously. Living in London now, I am so glad to know that the present honest and trustworthy SPP Trustees planned so well and worked hard for the increase in our community. CONGRATULATIONS.
Hope Parsi Panchayats and other leaders of the community unite and concentrate how to increase our population quickly.
Thats so very true…I and my husband personally met both Mr Darayas Master and Mr Yazdi Karanjia at their office at the Surat Parsi Punchayet with a request for housing accomodation and we was told the same. Mr Master not only assured us that a flat would be alloted to us as soon as the building is complete (the one built where the old Shirdiwalla Block stood) but he further asked us to plan our family soon. He was very kind and we could see the affectionate side of his too. He is all in for the parsis and wants our clan to increase, grow and reach greater heights. Kudos to him and the likes of him
Many our community increase by leaps and bounds and may we all follow our forefathers and aquire more respect for our community.
Am happy and may we see more people like Mr Darayas Master and Mr Yazdi Karanjia in our Punchayets.
Thats so very true…I and my husband personally met both Mr Darayas Master and Mr Yazdi Karanjia at their office at the Surat Parsi Punchayet with a request for housing accomodation and we was told the same. Mr Master not only assured us that a flat would be alloted to us as soon as the building is complete (the one built where the old Shirdiwalla Block stood) but he further asked us to plan our family soon. He was very kind and we could see the affectionate side of his too. He is all in for the parsis and wants our clan to increase, grow and reach greater heights. Kudos to him and the likes of him
Many our community increase by leaps and bounds and may we all follow our forefathers and aquire more respect for our community.
Am happy and may we see more people like Mr Darayas Master and Mr Yazdi Karanjia in our Punchayets.
Very happy to read your post Navaz. The Trustees have done their job. Now it is your and your husbands duty to bring up your children with Parsi values and traditions so that our community grows by leaps and bounds. Good-luck to both of you.
Atha Zamyat Yatha Afrinami !!!
Very happy to read your post Navaz. The Trustees have done their job. Now it is your and your husbands duty to bring up your children with Parsi values and traditions so that our community grows by leaps and bounds. Good-luck to both of you.
Atha Zamyat Yatha Afrinami !!!
Thank you Phiroze for your good wishes and be assured that we will always follow our parsi traditions completely and value them too. We are proud to be Zorastrian Parsis and love our community extremely. Good luck to you and your family as well.
May God Bless our Clan…
Thank you Phiroze for your good wishes and be assured that we will always follow our parsi traditions completely and value them too. We are proud to be Zorastrian Parsis and love our community extremely. Good luck to you and your family as well.
May God Bless our Clan…
Congratulations for even thinking of increasing the parsi community. We need more couples like you both. I suggest, you please continue staying in surat only and never think of shifting to mumbai. Parsi population in mumbai keeps on decreasing day by day with nothing done by bpp at-all.
Congratulations for even thinking of increasing the parsi community. We need more couples like you both. I suggest, you please continue staying in surat only and never think of shifting to mumbai. Parsi population in mumbai keeps on decreasing day by day with nothing done by bpp at-all.