(a) whether the government has held any meeting with the Anglo-Indian community from different parts of the country aiming for socio-economic educational empowerment of the community?
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the government has launched any scheme to reverse the declining trend of Parsi population by adopting a scientific protocol and structured interventions, stabilize their population and increase the population of Parsis in India; and
(d) If so, the details thereof.
MINISTER OF MINORITY AFFAIRS (SHRI MUKHTAR ABBAS NAQVI) (a) & (b): A meeting with the representatives of the Anglo Indian community was held in New Delhi in 2017. Besides, the representatives of the Anglo Indian Community visit Ministry of Minority Affairs from time to time. Based on interactions with them, all States/Union Territories have been advised to look into the problems and grievances of the Anglo Indian Community.
(c) & (d): The Ministry of Minority Affairs has been implementing a scheme namely “Jiyo Parsi - Scheme for containing the population decline of Parsis in India” since 2013-2014 with the objective to contain and attempt to reverse the declining trend of Parsi population by adopting a scientific protocol and structured interventions to stabilize their population and balance their population in India. The Scheme has three components: i. Advocacy: Includes counselling of couples with fertility, marriage, family and elderly counselling including workshops on relationship management, parenting, drug awareness etc.
ii. Health of Community:
Includes crèche/child care support, senior citizen honorarium for child care, assistance to elderly etc. the income criterion for the family whose elderly to be benefitted is Rs. 10.0 lakhs per family per year.
iii. Medical Assistance:
Includes Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART), which includes In-Vitro Fertilization and Intra Cytoplasmic Injection (ICS) and other modes including Surrogacy. Benefits under the component can be availed by any eligible Parsi couple. However, percentage of financial assistance depends on annual income of the beneficiary.
As on date 172 babies have been born with intervention of the scheme.
*****