Milestones
Birth rate at new low
The birth figures for 2007 and 2008 show a disturbing downward trend over the previous years. According to figures obtained from the Bombay Municipal Corporation through the efforts of Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) senior executive (welfare) Cawas Panthaky the number of births in 2007 was 158 (75 females and 83 males) while for 2008 the total is 147 (74 males, 73 females). These figures do not include births in Thana and New Bombay. The trend of more boys being born than girls continued in 2007.
Parsiana’s figures compiled for the same period from data collected from various hospitals and individuals shows a figure of 123 for 2007 and 124 for 2008.
The death statistics for two years as per the BPP records is 763 and 803. The additional numbers of those cremated at the Chandanwadi crematorium were 26 and 39. The number of Zoroastrians opting for cremation have increased with 26 (15 females and 11 males) being the figure for 2007 and 39 (14 males and 25 females) for 2008. In 2005 and 2006 the number of people opting for cremation at Chandanwadi was 16 and 29. There are several crematoria in Bombay. Parsiana collects the statistics only from Chandanwadi as our resources are limited and the number of bodies consigned to the other crematoria are fewer in number. More women than men in the community opt for cremation.
The BPP death figures includes deaths from Thana and New Bombay whose bodies were consigned to Doonger- wadi. The difference between births and deaths is close to 700 per year. One can expect the 2011 census figures for Bombay to drop to 40,000 from around 46,000 in 2001.
Parsiana’s figures compiled for the same period from data collected from various hospitals and individuals shows a figure of 123 for 2007 and 124 for 2008.
The death statistics for two years as per the BPP records is 763 and 803. The additional numbers of those cremated at the Chandanwadi crematorium were 26 and 39. The number of Zoroastrians opting for cremation have increased with 26 (15 females and 11 males) being the figure for 2007 and 39 (14 males and 25 females) for 2008. In 2005 and 2006 the number of people opting for cremation at Chandanwadi was 16 and 29. There are several crematoria in Bombay. Parsiana collects the statistics only from Chandanwadi as our resources are limited and the number of bodies consigned to the other crematoria are fewer in number. More women than men in the community opt for cremation.
The BPP death figures includes deaths from Thana and New Bombay whose bodies were consigned to Doonger- wadi. The difference between births and deaths is close to 700 per year. One can expect the 2011 census figures for Bombay to drop to 40,000 from around 46,000 in 2001.
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