BPP Review special issue

In a special issue of The BPP Review for 2006, the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) has highlighted its multifarious activities. According to BPP chairman Minoo Shroff, despite severe pressure on resources, the BPP has disbursed over Rs 500 lakhs on religious and welfare objects of the trust, a quantum leap of over 10 times in 20 years.

A major achievement is the establishment of a new housing complex at Goregaon where the BPP had acquired the land with 64 flats a few years ago. The flats have been repaired and reconditioned.

The BPP has evolved a formula for purchasing flats from occupants who choose to surrender them, by paying them compensation, and 25 flats have already been purchased under this scheme in the last three years. The policy will continue for the over 4,600 flats managed by the Punchayet from Colaba’s Cusrow Baug to Bharucha/Panthaky Baugs in Andheri. These flats will then be allotted only to those on the merit list.

Ever since the BPP launched its fertility drive with leading obstetrician and gynecologist Dr Anahita Pandole and psychologist Dr Pervin D. Dadachanji, nearly 120 couples have visited the clinic. Over 70 percent have followed up on a regular basis and 37 Parsi women have delivered, including four sets of twins and one set of triplets. Forty percent of the women were in the 35-40 years age group and 20 percent were above 40 years of age.

To rekindle the spirit of entrepreneurship among Parsi youth, a Venture Capital scheme has been promoted by the BPP through the Zoroastrian Investment Corporation Private Limited (ZICPL), and four individuals, with varying interests have been identified for assistance in their ventures: Jehan P. Bhujwala, Dinshaw F. Variava, Cyrus Dinshaw Driver and Percy Dossabhai Surty.

Naturalist Jehan P. Bhujwala has set up Shergarh, a new tented camp in a leafy grove at the southern edge of the Kanha Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh. Each one of the six thatched-roof tents at the camp has a large front verandah and bathroom with hot water. Visitors are provided Indian and Continental cuisine prepared from fresh homegrown vegetables, local produce and fish from the lake in the vicinity. Hundreds of species of birds and mammals inhabit the sanctuary. Bhujwala has been granted Rs 4.8 lakhs toward the initial share capital of his company and Rs 4.2 lakhs as a term loan. Another term loan of Rs 5.6 lakhs has also been sanctioned.

Aatash Foods produces readymade masalas like ginger-garlic paste, red chilli-garlic paste and prepared English mustard, which are greatly appreciated by Parsis and others. The company, owned by Dinshaw F. Variava and members of his family, wishes to expand its production line to keep abreast of the growing market in ready-to-eat foods. To facilitate the purchase of new sophisticated machinery estimated at Rs 1.46 crore, a sum of Rs 25 lakh was extended by ZICPL by way of equity participation and another Rs 25 lakh as a soft loan.

An MBA from IIM Ahmedabad and Bachelor of Technology from IIT, Bombay, young Cyrus Dinshaw Driver has chosen to branch out into a totally different sphere of activity from the portfolio monitoring and management which he has been doing as a consultant with J. P. Morgan Advisors. His ambition is to set up a national chain of diet foods and delivery outlets. He has made a beginning by establishing Goodlife Integrated Fitness Solutions Pvt Ltd. The ZICPL has extended funding to the tune of Rs 20 lakhs while the promoter’s contribution is Rs 70 lakhs.

Navsari-based Percy Dossabhai Sur­ty’s Stallion Health Zone is for the use of youths and adults of upper middle class households. This is a total health care unit with a modern gymnasium, electrotherapy treatment for figure control, scientific weight loss programs, yoga and meditation classes and diet counseling by experts. Percy has put in Rs 11.48 lakhs and the venture capital funding by ZICPL is Rs 15 lakhs.