THIS ELECTION IS ABOUT POLICY & ONLY POLICY!

We are well into electioneering with elections 3 weeks away. There are two very clear groups contesting the election with the rest as independents.

There is a group led by Kersi Randeria who has a panel with him consisting of Hoshi Jal, Adil Malia and Dara Patel. A couple of others are also a part of this group at meetings such as Farhad Hozdar and Yasmin Mistry. Yasmin Mistry is a candidate contesting whose news was spread last week for filing a complaint against Zuleika Homavazir for complaining against Yasmin that should not allowed to contest as she is married to a Muslim.

There is then the team of five, a tried and tested team who have the reputation of fulfilling their promises. This team, led by Mrs. Armaity Tirandaz has Viraf Mehta, Xerxes Dastur, Maharukh Noble and Rumy Zarir.

At every election, the electorate first see whether the candidate/s seeking to be elected have the right intentions to protect and safeguard the community. It is for this reason that the electorate has time and again elected for most times traditionalist Trustees (barring a few reformist Trustees elected along the way). Candidates with liberal views on opening up the religion to outsiders or candidates who are married out of the community have not been elected. This shows the community sentiment remains at large as traditional. We are certain that the community electorate’s views stay the same at the forthcoming election as well.

Having said the above, with the two groups in place, this election is clearly to be fought on POLICY and POLICY alone. It will be for the electorate to finally decide what team they wish to elect and with that what policies they want implemented for the next 5 years:

1. ENCASHMENT OF TENANCY RIGHTS TEAM RANDERIA: The view is that since the beneficiary was given the flat for free (in whatever year), the current occupant should return the key to the BPP free of cost at the time of vacating the flat. A utopian view but not practical. In the last decade, under five flats have been returned to the BPP for free of cost primarily because the person transferring the flat back to the BPP had no legal heirs to assign the flat to.

TEAM TIRANDAZ: It is the view of this team that if a beneficiary wishes to migrate out of Mumbai or is in need of funds or needs to move out for any reason, they should be given the right to encash their tenancy. A percentage of around 40-50% is given to the tenant and the rest is retained by the BPP as transfer fee. This system is legal and in fact encourages people to vacate the flat instead of trying to illegally induct a third party (as was the case before pughree was legalized). This method also encourages people with locked flats to earn off them rather than enter into litigation. This way (a) the outgoing tenant earns (b) a deserving person is allotted a flat and (c) the BPP does not spend on legal fees.

2. REFUNDABLE SECURITY DEPOSIT SCHEME TO RAISE FUNDS

Under this scheme certain high value flats will be auctioned to bidders in a fair and transparent manner. This way, the BPP earns revenue by way of interest on the deposits and through the funds earned pay salaries and undertake welfare activies

TEAM RANDERIA: They are strictly against this policy. Kersi Randeria has published his dissent for every auction published under this Scheme. Kersi Randeria is of the view that every flat, no matter the size (including a 4 bedroom flat in Cusrow Baug) should be given free even if that means making the BPP bankrupt.

TEAM TIRANDAZ: They realise that the BPP is broke. Broke because from 2015-2019 no steps were taken the then majority Trustees to generate funds. Today, the primary way to raise funds is through this method of refundable security. The BPP is not flushed with funds and earning deposits and interest therefrom is the current source of revenue.

3. INCREASE OF SERVICE CHARGES

TEAM RANDERIA: As we have seen in 2017, the BPP arbitrarily increased service charges to Rs. 750 per household. There was no rationale or logic behind this increase. However, this increase was done as a way to raise funds as the BPP had stopped the auction of flats. The increase to Rs. 750 was a blanket increase for every flat in every colony. This way, a one room kitchen flat at Nirlon was made to pay the same increased service charges as that of a 4 room kitchen flat at Kharegat Colony.

We are given to understand from beneficiaries that in the event increased service charges were not paid, the Baug custodians were directed not to collect rent and inform the beneficiaries that if the service charges were not paid, eviction suits would be filed against them thereby forcing the beneficiaries (including the poor of the poor) to pay these increased charges.

TEAM TIRANDAZ: Upon being elected, Xerxes kept to his election commitment and abolished service charges of Rs. 750 that were being levied on beneficiaries. The policy of Team Tirandaz is simple, the beneficiaries should not be illogically burdened. If the BPP’s coffers were getting empty due to their poor decision making, the beneficiaries should not be made to pay for it. So Instead, a logical plan be put in place whereby a staggered increase depending on the size and location of the colony be proposed after consulting the residents of each colony. No beneficiary should ever be threatened with eviction and their leave and license misused.

4. CONVERSION OF LEAVE & LICENSES TO TENANCY

TEAM RANDERIA: Kersi Randeria has personally opposed the conversion of all leave and license to tenancy. An attempt to oppose the conversion was initially made before Hon’ble Justice Kathawala however was directed to file a challenge before the appropriate bench of the High Court. Thereafter, Kersi Randeria filed a complaint with the Election Commission and since then obtained a stay from the Election Commission on any further conversions of leave and licenses to tenancies.

TEAM TIRANDAZ: Viraf Mehta in his manifesto of 2015 committed to convert all leave and licenses to tenancy. This has been a promise of nearly every candidate contesting elections. This team has kept to its commitment and passed a resolution to convert all applicable leave and licenses to tenancies. This positive step is for the wellbeing and benefit of the community. This ensures that no person is under the sword of the Trustees and cannot be threatened and blackmailed by them because they are protected as tenants rather than licensees. Viraf Mehta obtained legal opinions and safeguards by which the Parsi only covenant is protected and the Trustees get an opportunity to drastically reduce its liabilities.

Source: Parsi Junction