New Delhi, Aug 10 (IANS) As many as 534 births have been reported in the Parsi Community since 2014-15 as the government intensified efforts to stabilise their population with an expenditure of Rs 37.43 crore on the Jiyo Parsi scheme, Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju told the Rajya Sabha on MondayRijiju, in a written reply to a question, said these 500-plus births have brought a ray of hope among the Parsi Community towards stabilising their declining population.He said independent third-party evaluation studies also reported the scheme as successful in meeting its target.

Sharing details of the expenditure on the Jiyo Parsi scheme, Rijiju said in 2025-26, a total of Rs 2.93 crore was spent under the health of the community component, Rs 24 lakh was spent under the medical component, and Rs 29 lakh was spent on advocacy.The amount spent on the health of the community component has steadily risen over the years, including Rs 2.53 crore in 2023-24 and Rs 2.66 crore in 2024-25.The Minister said that since 2013, the cumulative year-wise number of beneficiaries of the Parsi Community provided with financial assistance for treatment of infertility issues, childbearing, childbirth and Post Natal Care under the Medical components is 582.

In addition, since 2018-19, the cumulative year-wise number of beneficiaries provided with financial assistance under the Health of Community component of the scheme is 1,055.He said publicity about the scheme is undertaken regularly to increase awareness and outreach among the Parsi community.Several workshops/interaction sessions, registration drives, and bio-authentication drives are also organised, said Rijiju.Dissemination of information regarding implementation of the Jiyo Parsi Scheme is also carried out through major Parsi newspapers every month. Under this component of the scheme, no direct financial assistance is provided to the beneficiaries.

/IANS