Mumbai: The government has been encouraging online applications for the next Hajj so that people can get an opportunity for the pilgrimage with complete transparency. This was announced by union Minister of State for Minority Affairs (Independent Charge) & Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi who inaugurated meeting of Haj Committee of India and states/UTs Hajj committees in Mumbai’s Hajj House, here today which reviewed the Hajj arrangements of this year’s Hajj.
Naqvi informed that during Hajj 2016, about 45,843 people had applied for Hajj online which was about 11 per cent of total applications received from across the nation for Hajj.
Maharashtra was at top place regarding online applications for Hajj 2016 with a total of 10,960 people applied online. 9257 online applications had been received from Kerala; 5407 from Uttar Pradesh; 2983 from Telangana; 2426 from Jammu and Kashmir and 2425 online applications had been received from Gujarat.
He said that the Minority Ministry has been making efforts to make the process of online application simple and easy so that more and more people can apply online for the next Hajj pilgrimage.
This year, about 99,903 people went to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia for Hajj from 21 embarkation points across India through Hajj Committee of India. While, about 36,000 Hajj pilgrims had gone through private tour operators.
Naqvi said that during last Hajj, Ministry of Minority Affairs had sent a team of officials to the two holy cities in Saudi Arabia to take stock of arrangements for the pilgrims. The Centre is committed to provide best facilities to pilgrims and making their pilgrimage comfortable. He also said his ministry has written to Chief Ministers of all the states and MPs last week to give suggestions regarding Haj.
The Ministry of Minority Affairs has already started preparations to make arrangements for the next Hajj. Hajj Committee of India and state Hajj committees should chalk out a strategy to ensure that pilgrims do not face any problem at Makkah and Madina.
Naqvi said that the Ministry of Minority Affairs has been preparing a 10-15 minutes duration film which will provide all the necessary information to Hajj pilgrims. This film will be shown to pilgrims at training camps to be organised for pilgrims. He said that Government of Saudi Arabia had cooperated a lot which ensured smooth Hajj 2016.
“We have started discussion with Government of Saudi Arabia and Hajj related agencies in India on the suggestions received from across the nation”.