Monday, October 9, 2017
INDIAN GOVT. PROPOSED NEW HAJJ POLICY FOR HAJJ 2018
Current Subsidy for Hajj pilgrims will be abolished by 2018 as per the proposed new hajj policy from Indian Government, As per the sources the annual Hajj quota for Indians is 170 lakh pilgrims.
- Women pilgrims above 45 years can travel in a group of minimum 4 members without any of her male Mehram.
- For Women pilgrims below 45 years, male mehram is mandatory to be with her.
- New proposal quota for Mehrams of female pilgrims is now in between 200 to 500.
- In new Hajj policy, Indian Hajj pilgrims can travel through only 9 Embarkation points of Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Cochin and Lucknow, For now there are 21 Embarkation points.
- New Hajj houses to be build in these 9 Embarkation points with a tag of states and districts.
- The reason for reducing Embarkation points is to introduce ship journeys, Government of India invited interested vessel owners with a capacity of 4000 to 5000 passengers.
- Ship journeys for Hajj is to be introduced for those who cannot bear expensive flight tickets, required facilities will be proposed by government, It will be people friendly policy.
- Indian Union Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said this new policy will ensure the safety and security of the Indian Hajj Pilgrims.
- New Hajj policy for Indians may effect from the 2018 Hajj pilgrimage, The new policy stresses on breaking the contractors with a transparent bidding process.
- The cut in funds for Hajj subsidy will be used for educational empowerment and welfare of Muslims.
- As per the proposed policy the distribution of Hajj quota between Hajj Committee and private tour operators will be in the ratio of 70:30 for the upcoming 5 years.
- The new proposed policy will ensure to stay of all Indian Hajj pilgrims within Mina of Saudi Arabia.
