Ministry of Minority Affairs holds 2nd Meeting of Jiyo Parsi Advisory Committee today in Mumbai
Ministry of Minority Affairs holds 2nd Meeting of Jiyo Parsi Advisory Committee today in Mumbai
Focus on Population Stabilisation and Community Support Measures
The 2nd meeting of the Jiyo Parsi Advisory Committee was held today in Mumbai under the chairmanship of Dr. Chandra Shekhar Kumar, Secretary, Ministry of Minority Affairs.
The meeting was attended by senior officials of the Ministry, representatives from the Minority Welfare Departments of Maharashtra and Gujarat, members of the Bombay and Gujarat Parsi Panchayats, and representatives of the National Minorities Development & Finance Corporation (NMDFC).
During the meeting, detailed deliberations were held on the factors contributing to the decline in the Parsi population, including demographic trends, delayed marriages, socio-economic challenges, and changing social patterns. Stakeholders shared suggestions to address these issues through coordinated policy support and community participation.
The Committee also discussed ways and means to promote timely and early marriages within the Parsi community. These included strengthening awareness initiatives, expanding counselling and matchmaking support systems, encouraging community-level engagement through Panchayats and institutions, and enhancing outreach efforts among Parsi youth and families.
The Secretary highlighted the importance of economic empowerment in ensuring long-term community sustainability. He encouraged members of the Parsi community, especially youth and women to avail concessional loans and entrepreneurship support provided by NMDFC for startups, self-employment, and skill-based enterprises.
The meeting also reviewed the progress of the Jiyo Parsi Scheme, a unique Central Sector Scheme aimed at reversing the declining population trend of the Parsi community. The scheme provides financial assistance for medical support related to fertility treatments, childcare assistance, advocacy and awareness programmes, and community outreach initiatives designed to encourage family formation and population stabilisation.
The discussions reaffirmed the Government of India’s continued commitment to preserving and strengthening the rich heritage, demographic vitality, and socio-economic well-being of the Parsi community through focused interventions and sustained collaboration with stakeholders.
