Kavarana.

I believe the future of the community lies with our youth today! We are at a crucial juncture where our actions, will reflect in the prosperity of tomorrow. The youth need to be engaged with the community who today seem to be unconcerned and sadly dispassionate. Having connected with them through ZYNG and I now seek your unreserved support for my first term as a BPP Trustee.

Family: I come from a family that has dedicated over 50 years to community and society. The Mehta family has been in public service as Municipal Corporators in Mumbai for nearly 50 years. My father has been a Trustee of the BPP for 21 years, from the year 1994 till October, 2015. Through him, I have developed a passion for service to my community.

Education: Born and raised in Mumbai I studied at St Mary’s School (ICSE) in Mazagaon and then at St. Xavier’s College (HSC – Science). I spent 7 years in Chicago attending the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) in Chicago, USA, where I did my BSc. in Mechanical Engineering and MSc. in Finance.

Profession: At 38 years, I am the Vice President at CLSA Limited – Asia’s leading and longest running independent investment and brokerage group, with over 1,500 employees. Recently, I was ranked India’s third best trader by the Asia Money polls.

OLD WINE IN A NEW BOTTLE?
I am being branded as someone my father will control on the Board if elected. Let it be known that while I am proud of the family I come from and my career and accomplishments are those of a self-made individual, independent of my surname. I have my own thoughts, processes and ideas, many of which vary from my fathers. My father is an Encyclopedia of Housing while my expertise lies in asset and finance management. I am the most passionate to bring about change in the BPP, because my family and I have all suffered and seen first-hand how politics has caused paralysis in the BPP.
For 3 years the press has been reporting exhaustive unproven allegations against my father even after the authorities have given him multiple clean reports. Even after allegations, he continues to work ceaselessly for the community because for him service to the community is paramount over all else. He is well aware that his term comes to an end in October 2015 following which he will dedicate his time to his family, grandchildren and commence several family projects which were stalled due to his lack of time.

SERVICE TO COMMUNITY & SOCIETY
At 38 years of age, I am proud with what I have accomplished. I have in my own little way done what I felt would benefit society:
• Volunteered and financially assisted ‘VAF‘ (Victory Arts Foundation) set up by Mr. Shiamak Davar for the last 7 years.
• Provided financial aid of downtrodden children at the Magaswargiya Sudhar Mahasangh, and the Indira Gandhi Abhiyasika at Bombay Central for 5 years .
• Espoused the cause for workers of the Mumbai Meghwal Panchayat, who are mainly our BMC sweepers and garbage collectors who end up suffering from various medical diseases for over 3 years.
• Assisting underprivileged children at Asha Daan, Byculla for the last 4 years and the Prerna Foundation, Malabar Hill for 3 years.
• Supported the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) which works to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families.
• Management of the Rusi Mehta Vyamshala for the last 6 years, which caters to health and the well-being of poor children of the Tardeo locality.
• Trustee of the Kappawala Agiary and seeking to settle the long ongoing litigation it is embroiled in.

Apart from the above, my brother and I are Trustees of a Public Charitable Trust that has been doing valuable social service to the community for over 2 decades, such as:
• Providing doles to 500 to 600 Parsis from Rs. 400/- to Rs. 1,000/- per month.
• Providing school books to over 750 students of various Municipal Schools
• Offering medical and educational aid to needy Parsis and others.
• Providing a free of cost Ambulance service in memory of Mr. Rusi Mehta.
• Providing service to help clean Agiaries.

ZYNG
When ZYNG was conceptualized by a few of us, we had envisioned creating a youth body that would bring about integration of the youth. We have today succeeded in our mission and registered over 4,000 members. My 6 year long journey in ZYNG has enriched me in many ways, including connecting the youth from all areas all over the world, not just from our colonies / non-colonies. Through our constructive activities, ZYNG has brought together over a 100 couples many of whom are today happily married with children.

HOUSING POLICY
One of the most controversial issues and probably the root cause for all the bad blood amongst the BPP Trustees is the lack of transparency in the Housing Policy.

A lot of people ask whether the BPP should be allowed to auction flats on the Refundable Deposit Scheme. I believe it is a source of income for the BPP and the system of auctioning needs to continue, in a transparent manner. It is necessary to advertise the sale / availability / allotment flats in the Parsi press and conduct an open auction based on a refundable deposit.

A solution needs to be arrived at on a war footing basis regarding the issue of TENANCY vs. LEAVE LICENSE. I have covered this issue in my Manifesto which voters will receive shortly.

REPAIR COSTS for buildings is presently shared by the residents and the BPP. There is no need for this. By financially utilizing its assets the BPP can generate revenue from alternative streams and the income can be used towards maintenance and upkeep on BPP properties.

PROTECTION OF ASSETS: Any sale, lease or lien over any BPP property must be conducted in a fair and transparent manner through public advertisements and not in a closed door transaction.

POWER TO BAUG & COLONY ASSOCIATIONS
The Trustees are only custodians for the time being of the Trust properties and should not act like landlords or owners. It is my proposal that the Baug Associations and Committees be given added responsibilities for looking after their respective colonies.

TRANSPARENCY & ACCOUNTABILITY
‘Angel’ Trustees: The BPP consists of about 16 large colonies. I propose that the each Trustee be given the responsibility to oversee 2-3 colonies, making each Trustee an “Angel Trustee” to those coloniesy, on a rotational basis.

Publishing of Synopsis of the Minutes: A brief synopsis of the Minutes of the Board Meeting be published on its website and BPP Review. The synopsis should contain the attendees of such meetings as well as important and major decisions taken.

Online Integration: The Housing Scheme, an All Parsi Directory, Merit Rating List, auction of flats and other such information should be all made available online for anyone to access. Such a system will make all Trustees accountable for their actions.

APD: Provide every member of the community with Identity Cards which provide vital information like photo address, age, and blood group. The data will then be uploaded onto an All Parsi Directory (APD)

DOONGERWADI & THE SYSTEM OF DOKHMENISHINI
Personally I am a firm believer of our 300 year old system of Dokhmenishini and would prefer to be consigned to the Towers of Silence.

The popularity of the recently set up “cremate-ni-bungli” by Mr. Dinshaw Tamboly at Worli shows that there is indeed a large faction who is choosing an alternative method. Whilst I am no one to impose my views, I believe that each faction whose differences arise from systems for disposal of the dead should not let their issues become personal on any level.

‘PLANT FOR LOVED ONE’ – A non-religious idea

At the Doongerwadi I wish to introduce a simple system (with the blessings of our Vada Dasturjis) which will help provide greenery called ‘Plant For Loved One’ where, after the sad demise of a member of the family, that family will be given a right to plant a sapling in the Doongerwadi in a space allocated by the BPP, in memory of the deceased. This will be a token of remembrance whenever one visits the Doongerwadi, and is in the true spirit of giving back to nature.