The Parsi community in India has been declining in population for several reasons, including:
Low fertility rates: The fertility rate among Parsi couples is very low, with many couples choosing not to have children or delaying having children until later in life. This has led to a decline in the number of Parsi births.
Inter-faith marriages: The Parsi community has a tradition of not accepting converts into their faith and as a result, members who marry outside the community are not considered Parsis. This has led to a decline in the number of Parsi marriages and births.
Aging population: The Parsi community has a disproportionately high number of elderly members, and the number of young people in the community is declining. This has led to a decline in the number of Parsi births and an increase in the number of deaths.
Migration: Many Parsis have migrated from India to other countries in search of better opportunities. This has led to a decline in the number of Parsis in India.
Overall, the combination of low fertility rates, inter-faith marriages, an aging population, and migration have led to a decline in the Parsi community’s population. This decline is a cause for concern, as the Parsi community has made significant contributions to India’s cultural, social, and economic fabric.
Indian Government has launched Jiyo Parsi scheme to check on declining population of Parsi community
The Ministry of Minority Affairs initiated the Jiyo Parsi Scheme in 2013 to check the declining Parsi population.
The main purpose of the project was to arrest the diminishing trend of the Parsi population by adopting a scientific protocol and structured interventions, in order to stabilise their number and consequently expanding the population of Parsis in India.
The scheme also offers cash assistance to encourage Parsi couples to have children. The scheme is applicable to all couples, irrespective of their financial status.
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