Irani Zoroastrians declared a nomadic tribe?

"The Irani Zoroastrians, who form about a quarter of India’s Parsi Zoroastrian population, have been declared a ‘nomadic tribe’ by the Maharashtra Government. This new status will entitle the small community to reservations in state government jobs and seats in educational institutions,” wrote Manoj Nair in Mumbai Mirror (January 21, 2006). "We will get all the advantages of reservation …The IZA gives certificates (attesting to member’s credentials as Iranis) to those who apply for them,” says Mehrwan.

The story on the ground is not as rosy. The collector of Bombay gives a certificate on the basis of the IZA one but it is not valid for engineering and medical colleges, says Pervez. For that the certificate has to be confirmed by the commissioner for caste certificates at Konkan Bhavan in Vashi, he notes, adding, "So far not a single certificate has been confirmed by Konkan Bhavan, though they are keeping applications pending, not saying yes or no.”

This so-called reservation status was based on the Government Gazette notification dated May 5, 2005 which mentions a number of castes with Muslims in brackets appended to each name except for "Bharatiya Irani” where there is no further appendage. Pervez says he has learnt, unofficially, that a secondary qualification is that the income of the applicant should be under Rs 1,500 per month. Also, the passport of the applicant’s father must mention his place of birth as Iran. "You qualify only if you are a naturalized citizen (of India),” states Pervez. However, the Bombay Parsi Puncha­yet has said there is no difference between Iranis and Parsis, that the two communities have merged, as Nair’s report states. That will also have an adverse impact, feels Pervez.

There is a proposal that the IZA should put up a representation to the home minister of Maharashtra, notes Pervez. "Perhaps, if he accepts...?”