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How safe are the Parsi community’s properties from encroachment? The news of encroachment on Parsi property in Rajkot is distressing, and it is not an isolated case either. This is happening all over the country where we have a minuscule presence or none at all.

In most cases, it is an in-house problem. There is evidence of self-interest amongst the few community members residing in these towns/cities, very often aided and abetted by those who have migrated to greener pastures. There are many such instances on record. This is bound to happen when trustees of small outlying anjumans reside in Bombay and have no connect with the ground realities. In quite a few cases, families have claimed these trust properties as being "family owned," resulting in squabbling.

I reiterate what I wrote way back in December 2016: "With crores worth of community property lying unattended and uncared for all over the country, it is time for us to start a movement to protect our properties with all seriousness. Should we seek the assistance of the government? Is there a need for us to seek instructions from the judiciary?

"I believe we already have in place such a forum in the Federation of the Parsi Zoroastrian Anjumans of India (FPZAI). With a membership of approximately 69 anjumans distributed over five zones, covering the length and breadth of the country, the FPZAI is truly representative of the community at large. It comprises elected members of most, if not all, the Parsi anjumans in the country. It is not just an ad hoc body of individuals who want to take upon themselves the onus of running the various anjumans or trusts. The FPZAI has a very vibrant subcommittee, the Defunct Anjumans Committee (DAC), which is charged with the responsibility of protecting such properties. The terms of reference for the DAC were drawn up by Bomi Hirjee, a senior ex-IAS officer and president of the Indore Anjuman, lawyer Burjor Antia and R. D. Sethna Trust chief executive officer Farrokh Rustomji. The terms were discussed and approved by all the members of the FPZAI at their annual general meetings.

However, along with responsibility there should be authority and financial capability which are at present lacking in the FPZAI. Nothing insurmountable, though. FPZAI needs to be strengthened. Owing to the alleged lack of finances, FPZAI in its present avatar is totally controlled by the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) whose chairman is ipso facto president of the FPZAI. The BPP trustees play a major role in the working of FPZAI/DAC. This was presumably because FPZAI, when it was first established, had no office of its own nor financial backing and only the BPP was in a position to provide these two important requirements at that time.

Perhaps the FPZAI should now sever this umbilical cord so that it can independently take on the responsibility, with due authority of its member anjumans, to protect and care for all affected community assets.

With an effective FPZAI in place, there should be no reason to have other groups or organizations from abroad involved in managing our properties in India, however altruistic they may be. If their intentions are genuinely honorable they could consider helping FPZAI financially.