By MM Special Correspondent
Mumbai: Minority Affairs Ministry has been sending its senior officials to Saudi Arabia for taking stock of arrangements, facilities, safety and helping to about 1 lakh 36 thousand Indians who have been proceeding for Hajj this year. This was announced by the Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs (Independent Charge) & Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi after reviewing Hajj arrangements in a meeting with officials at Haj House, Mumbai. The meeting was held to take stock of preparations for Hajj. Haj Committee of Indian CEO Ataur Rehman and other officials were present in the meeting.
After the meeting he said that the Minority Affairs Ministry and other concerned departments are very serious about arrangements, facilities and safety of Haj pilgrims.
He also attended a training camp organized for Hajj pilgrims, where he welcomed a large number of people who have been going for Hajj. Besidesm various information regarding Hajj, disaster-management training was also provided to those going for Hajj in the training camp.
The minister said that 10 per cent of total Hajj applicants applied online this year and online applications will be encouraged on large scale for next Haj pilgrimage.
About 4,500 Haj pilgrims will proceed to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia for Haj pilgrimage from Mumbai this year from August 27. For Haj 2016, about 1,00,020 Haj pilgrims have been facilitated from 21 points across India through Haj Committee. Apart from this, 36,000 Haj pilgrims have been proceeding through the private tour operators.