DNA Edit: Increasing Numbers - The success of Jiyo Parsi scheme offers hope

While India requires measures to contain its swelling population, the Parsis, a tiny, endangered minority needed some serious encouragement to save itself from extinction. Hence, the launch of the Jiyo Parsi scheme in 2013-14 to inspire Parsis to rapidly procreate.

Now in its second phase, Jiyo Parsi’s success can be gauged from the fact that in Gujarat, as opposed to one birth two years ago, the number has shot up to 12. This means that a community generally reluctant to have babies is expressing eagerness to swell its ranks.

Though the numbers are still much too small — in the last four years, 168 babies born across the country under the scheme and the incidence of death in an aging populace is much more than the number of newborns — there is hope.

The sops offered under the scheme — for IVF treatment, couples get reimbursed up to Rs 8 lakh per child till birth — have definitely helped. But the journey to becoming a vibrant, robust population is going to be long and arduous.

Interestingly, Parsis have more females compared to males in their community — about 1,050 females per 1,000 males, which is much higher than India’s average of 933 females, according to the 2001 Census. India still has the highest population of Parsis in the world and despite being numerically weak, the contributions of the Parsis in various fields, especially, in business and the armed forces, have been noteworthy.

The Parsis, apparently, have one of the lowest fertility rates in the world as well as the highest numbers of bachelors and spinsters. But, apart from accelerating birth rate, the community also needs crucial reforms that can clear the way for a departure from calcified norms and traditions.