A good beginning

With nine successful conceptions having occurred at the fertility clinic set up in Bombay under the Rs 10 crore government sponsored Jiyo Parsi scheme, there is hope that the community’s numbers will increase, reported Hindustan Times (HT) on May 13, 2014. The scheme, launched in September 2013, is supported by Parzor Foundation and the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP).
Parsi couples from across the country have recorded successful conceptions. Dr Anahita Pandole, who also heads the BPP’s fertility clinic, revealed to HT that three conceptions were done through in-vitro fertilization (IVF), one through intra-uterine insemination and the rest were natural. Dr Shernaz Cama, head of Parzor opined, "This figure is a good success rate for our community. The response to the scheme has been extremely positive” while Dadi Mistry, member of the National Minorities Commission, added, "We have a fertility clinic coming up in Delhi under the scheme which will increase the number of conceptions.”
The dwindling numbers have been cause for concern in the community. Reasons identified for the decline are few and late marriages, reduced fertility, emigration, inter-community marriages and divorces, HT notes.