WZO’s welfare work

"The World Zoroastrian Organisation (WZO) has no funds of its own and is completely dependent on donors for support in its multifarious welfare activities, all of which are aimed at making beneficiaries independent, living with self respect and dignity, and gradually introducing a positive transformation in the quality of their lives,” notes a report of the Organisation’s activities during the year 2003-04 by the chairman of The WZO Trust Funds, Dinshaw Tamboly.

Of the Rs 35,284,900 collected (till December 31, 2003) for rehabilitation of Zoroastrian farmers, Rs 34,977,400 had been expended to assist more than 372 families from 160 villages. Assistance required by the agrarians was mainly in the form of electric pumps/diesel engine sets, laying of pipelines, sewing machines, sinking, deepening and repair of wells, and levelling of fields, as per the overview of their activities. Over 29 families were given financial support to replace their mud huts with cement and brick cottages, each of which costs Rs 150,000.

The self-employment scheme has benefited 392 Zoroastrians who have availed of the interest free finance to start their own modest ventures. After the initial funding from a generous donor trust, since the last three years the scheme is being sustained from the repayments that are received.

The Medical Benevolent Fund, established in London, provided financial support to 10 Zoroastrians from India who were required to travel to the UK, USA and Australia for medical treatment not available here.

Top left: Garden outside Sanjan Sanatorium; trustees, D.Tamboly, Farrokh Kasad, Bachi Tamboly, Firoj Panthaky, Burjor Antia; the WZO team (front) Panthaky, Hilda Sethna, Sarosh Guzder, (rear) Kasad, Tamboly and Rumi Sethna overseeing the sinking of a tube well in Amalsadi; (center) Residents of Senior Citizens Centre being taken for an outing and spinning kusti wool; Bottom: Beneficiaries of rural help and self-employment schemes

Forty-six young mobeds avail of monthly assistance ranging from Rs 1,000 to Rs 4,000 under their scheme in association with the Athornan Mandal to encourage young mobeds to take to full-time mobedi. The WZO raised Rs 9,300,000 that has been capitalized and the income used to provide returns based on the type of ceremonies the young mobeds perform. The amounts distributed are meant to supplement the regular income that the young mobeds earn.

Besides rendering educational, vocational and institutional aid to those seeking to excel, the WZO has been extending aid to the aged living in penury and providing holidays to groups of senior citizens who live below the poverty line. Their Sanatorium in Sanjan is a popular community resort charging just Rs 175 per person per day for full day’s boarding and lodging.

The success of their Bai Maneckbai P. B. Jeejeebhoy Centre for Senior Citizens in Navsari has prompted a US citizen to fund another similar venture, property for which has been purchased down the same street and plans for which have been drawn up. After constructing three residential buildings in Navsari, the fourth near the Atash Behram, being financed by the trustees of the Behramji Nowroji Gamadia Parsi Hunnar Shalla Trust, is under construction and should be ready by end 2005.

When Iran was ravaged by an earthquake in December 2003, WZO undertook a fund raising exercise all over the world, with India contributing Rs 1,278,515 to help the victims.

The three main pillars of encouragement, motivation and support for all the projects undertaken have been the trustees of the Bai Maneckbai P. B. Jeejeebhoy Deed of Settlement Fund, Zoroastrian Charity Funds of Hong Kong, Canton and Macao and Sir Ratan Tata Trust, acknowledges the report hoping that further contributions will come in to finance their different welfare activities. Donations which are tax exempt may be sent in the name of The WZO Trust Funds at Shanti, 5th floor, 6, Banaji Street, Fort, Bombay 400001.