There is a letter from Piroja Homi Jokhi regarding the Parsi Lying-in Hospital (PLIH) titled "PLIH: for senior citizens” (Readers’ Forum, Parsiana, May 21-June 6, 2021).
Jokhi states that the managing committee (MC), with the best interest of PLIH in mind, was planning its revival with a private party and wanted to set up a world class healthcare center for orthopedics and neurosurgery. She wrongly blames me for approaching the Supreme Court (SC) to get the deal cancelled.
I once again repeat that I was not against the revival of PLIH per se if it was for community welfare but against the method employed by the MC.
Petit Sanatorium Photo: Sheena Parikh
Trusts can sell or lease property after issuing public notice in newspapers and calling for bids from interested parties. In this case the MC issued no public notice nor called for offers from the general public. Thus the rules laid down by the SC were not followed.
Further, as Jokhi rightly points out, the Hospital is owned by the Bombay Parsi Punchayet, whilst the MC looks after its administration. The PLIH is in a state of disuse and decay since the past 30 years; one wonders what the MC was administering for decades.
Jokhi then makes a suggestion to use PLIH as a home for senior citizens. Whilst her objective is indeed laudable, such a home is not required at present by our community due to the steep decrease in our population. We already have the F. S. Parukh Dharamshalla at Khareghat Colony and the Pallonji Shapoorji Home for Senior Citizens in The B. D. Petit Parsee General Hospital compound, which are underutilized. We also have a Senior Citizens’ Home in Navsari and another such home in Surat. Hence there is no need for further homes.
I had proposed that the recently repaired portions of PLIH could be directly used as a quarantine center for Covid affected families. A certain portion has been repaired but other portions which require repairs remain. Out of the 25,000 sq ft PLIH structure about 15,000 sq ft is in good condition whilst about 10,000 sq ft require major structural repairs.
A structural engineer surveyed the Hospital building and gave a report of repairs cost of over six crore rupees for the property, disregarding that a part of it could be immediately safely used at minimum cost.
The trustees of the Petit Sanatorium at Kemps Corner did not want to give the building for Covid purposes, citing major repair requirement of the dilapidated structure.
Hence the two institutions of the community are lying unused and are deteriorating.