Mumbai:
According to the Planning Commission those who earn approximately more than Rs 900 a day, are ineligible to qualify as poor but Mumbai's Parsi community begs to differ. The affluent community says a 'poor Parsi' is one who makes upto Rs 90,000 per month.
The Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP), a Parsi body, informed the Bombay High Court on Monday that it has revised the definition of a 'poor Parsi' as one who earns upto Rs 90,000 per month. This was after 65-year-old Rohinton Taraporewala moved the court over BPP rejecting his claim for allotment of a flat in Panthaki Baug in North-west Mumbai's Andheri area. Mr Taraporewala, who lives in Thane, had submitted names to show that some from the community were allotted flats in Panthaki Baug despite their income exceeding Rs 50,000 per month.
Responding in the court, the Parsi society said earlier only those earning upto 50,000 rupees per month were eligible for renting of the flats at a subsidised rate, but now the needy included those who earn between Rs 30, 000 to Rs 90, 000 per month.
There are about 5000 houses which are given on rent to the members of the Parsi community. The 'poor' Parsis can buy these flats which cost Rs 70 lakh each for Rs 20 lakh and those of them earning less than Rs 10, 000 per month can rent them at Rs 200 to 500 per month.
According to estimates, around 45000 Parsis live in Mumbai.