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It was shocking to read the Parsiana report based on the presentation made by the Navsari anjuman representative at the executive council meeting of The Federation of the Parsi Zoroastrian Anjumans of India ("Seeking security — II,” Parsiana, June 21, 2017). Staying in Navsari for the last 40 years, as trustee of the Navsari anjuman and other cosmopolitan institutions, I am in public service and very much in touch with the community. The report is not just painful but a real mockery of poverty and an insult to the poorest of poor in Navsari. 
The last sentence "even if no donations are received we won’t be in trouble” prompts me to clarify the status of Navsari and its people.
Navsari has 660 charity blocks, the highest concentration being in Avan Baug that has 498 flats. It is the only institution that houses the economically disadvantaged at a very nominal amount. Thanks to the largesse of the Jokhi family, this trust provides houses for community members who are deprived of education, health, civic amenities and socio-medico facilities in remote villages. The complex helps preserve the religion and rites of the community. Another major benefactor is the WZO Trust Funds and their leading trustees Bachi and Dinshaw Tamboly who with great efforts have housed families.
The Navsari Malesar Behdin Anjuman (NMBA) is in a critical state since 1982 when Avan Baug was inaugurated. The matter is in court for NMBA not accepting residents of Avan Baug as members. There has been no major function, no gathering, no trusteeship elections. Even their limited housing blocks are in a poor condition.
Until last year, the educational institutions were on the verge of being taken over by the government due to infighting among trustees. The Daboo Parsi General Hospital is in need of funds. The D. N. Mehta Sarvajanik Hospital that started later has flourished.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Aboowala Parsi Infirmary has progressed well thanks to the efforts of the secretary Yazdi Kasad. The Doongerwadi too is in a good condition with all facilities. As the Sorab Baug dharamshala is meant for the convenience of visiting devotees who come to pay respects to the Atash Behram, it does not generate any income. The Samast Anjuman which looks after the Infirmary and Doongerwadi cannot work for amelioration of poverty, extend medical or educational aid as these objectives are not stated in its trust deed. The Athornan or Bhagarsath Anjuman that celebrated 250 years of the Navsari Atash Behram received donations of three crore rupees (USD 4,63,213) but that does not suffice to look after the Atash Behram properties.
Navsari is surrounded by many small villages where live disadvantaged Zoroastrians. Some community members are undernourished, lack good education facilities and the sick have little access to medical treatment. We have no corpus to work for poverty amelioration, education or medical relief. We are in genuine need of funds to take care of our premises, culture and people. The disadvantaged depend on the Surat Parsi Panchayat or the Bombay Parsi Punchayet.
We are in need of funds to look after our Orphanage, Atash Behram, Infirmary, Hospital and Doongerwadi. We shall have to construct a new wall at Doongerwadi as a part of our land has been acquired for a highway. The Bhagarsath Anjuman is keen to purchase properties adjoining the Atash Behram which are becoming commercialized. The Infirmary constantly requires donations as we have more than 60 patients on each of whom we expend Rs 10,000 per month. The Boys Orphanage has a very small corpus.             JIMMY BACHA
jimmybacha22@yahoo.in