WZO’s welfare work

During the year 2008 the rehabilitation of 17 Zoroastrian farmers was initiated by the World Zoroastrian Organisation (WZO) with the sinking of tube wells, providing submersible pump sets, leveling fields, providing pipelines, seeds and fertilizers. Cottages made from brick and mortar replaced 30 huts made of mud and cow dung in the rural areas. Self employment endeavors of 33 Zoroastrians in rural, semi urban and urban areas were supported in diverse disciplines such as plying of commercial vehicles, setting up of small workshops and electronic data processing units. This overview of the major welfare activities undertaken in India during 2008 by The World Zoroastrian Organisation Trust and The WZO Trust Funds for rehabilitation of Zoroastrian farmers, rural housing, self employment, education, medical help, relief from poverty, mobed welfare and low cost housing in Navsari has been forwarded to Parsiana by Dinshaw Tamboly, managing trustee.

The importance of education — academic, institutional and vocational, has been recognized by sponsoring 89 students at different institutions and recommending a number of applications to various donor trusts for consideration. A total of Rs 1.5 crore was raised to meet the medical expenses of 331 Zoroastrians. In 2008, indigent and elderly community members, numbering 253, were supported through disbursement of payments on a quarterly basis, totaling Rs 72,86,400. Nor were priests neglected. Three lakh rupees were spent to meet the shortfall in the Athornan Mandal/WZO full time mobed support scheme. For extending support to 38 priests, a sum of Rs 4,56,000 was expended. The navar/maratab ceremony of one athornan child from an economically challenged family was performed, the report reveals.

Clockwise (from top left): a typical Zoroastrian hut; cottage coming up to replace hut; brick kiln sponsored by WZO; donors Alex Burns and wife sitting on parapet of new well sunk for a Zoroastrian farmer and his family

To provide economic housing in Navsari the construction of the WZO Trust’s seventh building at Kanga Street was taken in hand at an expected total cost of Rs 69,43,000. Admission to both the senior citizens’ centers in Navsari — the Bai Maneck­bai P. B. Jeejeebhoy Centre for Senior Citizens and the Dolat and Hormusji Vandrewala Senior Citizens Centre — run by the WZO is much sought after, the report reveals. The Bai Maneckbai P. B. Jeejeebhoy-WZO Sanatorium at Sanjan, with its comfortable rooms and sumptuous meals, has become a popular community resort.

While expressing gratitude to all donors, big and small, the trusts would welcome donations for their projects by way of cheque/draft to be forwarded to The World Zoroastrian Organisation Trust and/or The WZO Trust Funds at Shanti, 5th Floor, 6, Banaji Street, Fort, Bom­bay 400001. Donations are exempt under section 80G(5) of the Income Tax Act 1961.