MUMBAI: The Parzor Foundation and Madison BMB along with Bombay Parsi Panchayat, TISS, Mumbai, and Federation of Zoroastrian Anjumans of India have launched the “Jiyo Parsi” Phase-II campaign.

Minister for minority affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi presided over a gathering of eminent personalities and released the campaign. Also present on the occasion was the consul-general of Iran Masood E Khaleghi and the renowned actress Parizad Kolah Marshall who both spoke on the importance of the programme.

The Jiyo Parsi Scheme has been initiated by the ministry of minority affairs (MOMA), Government of India, to reverse the decline in the Parsi population by adopting scientific medical protocols and structured interventions, to stabilize and increase the population of Parsis in India.

The Parzor Foundation along with other Parsi organisations and many reputed doctors across India is working to spread awareness on the sociological, psychological and medical issues which have led to the critical decline in numbers, to make Parsis benefit from the huge advances in ART (Assisted Reproductive Technology) available today. As India’s population more than tripled in over 60 years, the number of Parsis has reduced by almost 50 per cent and is now less than 57,264 (Census 2011).