While there are no firm dates announced for a countrywide census which was due in 2021, Jiyo Parsi (JP) is "trying to create” a data base of all Parsis living in India, for use by the union ministry of minority affairs "in planning further support schemes, on the lines of the JP scheme, and educational scholarships.” A notice on the website of JP states: "We were working since 2018 with the Census 2021 team for the required information… However, due to the Covid situation Census 2021 has been considerably delayed… Since the available data on the Parsi community is now over 11 years old, the ministry felt that it was essential to have more correct statistics on the Parsis.
"While the decline in numbers is on record, we have a large number of Parsis whose income is much lower than what is generally perceived. We have provided anecdotal evidence regarding cases of genteel poverty, excessive burden on a few earning members, etc, however the government needs hard statistics and actual figures,” states the notice, giving the reason for seeking "several personal details to help the community even without the Census 2021.” It is hoped the JP database "will be beneficial for many more people in the community, covering health of the community, including psychological health, education and its needs, support for the aged, differently abled, while improving the quality of life,” states the write-up. The note commits that "privacy issues will be strictly observed, as we have been doing over the years for medical and infertility treatment.”
A note stating the survey required non-Parsi spouses’ data triggered an uproar. One anonymous message stated "please do not fill up any JP form asking for details of inter-married Parsi family members. Instead please flood the Prime Minister of India’s email and Twitter account with complaints against JP which is trying to encourage conversion of non-Parsi and Hindu spouses into the community.”
Parzor director Dr Shernaz Cama (pictured), in a widely circulated response to various WhatsApp chat groups dated January 11, 2022 stated, "We have never raised controversies and have no intention of doing so now. Our only aim has been to coordinate with the government so that more government schemes can be made available to the Parsi/Irani Zoroastrians. The Jiyo Parsi Scheme mandate states it can only help those who add to the Parsi population. This leaves many unmarried, elderly, sick, divorced, widowed/widowers out of any assistance. When we explained this to the ministry, they agreed to look into this matter but wanted statistical proof of these problems. This also deals with Parsis ‘outmarried’ and then sometimes in need of financial help or other assistance. It is only for this reason that we needed data about those married outside the community… The reference to non-Parsi spouses was not to collect any data on intermarried couples. The only reason as I have mentioned for including the non-Parsi spouse was to get an accurate account of the exact number of the Parsi Zoroastrians in each family. The non-Zoroastrian would obviously be excluded from the numerical data on Zoroastrians supplied to the government… However, since this has generated so much annoyance, we will remove the question… as our aim is to have a correct picture of the Parsi Zoroastrian situation in the country, so that the community at large can benefit.”
A Google document has been created to collect this data and is available on the website of JP. "We are counting on every single Parsi in India to stand up and be counted,” headlines a colorful advertisement in the Parsi Press requesting that the form be completed.