Lok Sabha Question No. 85 (STARRED), answered on 2017-02-08
Subject: Haj Expenses
Ministry: MINORITY AFFAIRS
Asked by: SULTAN  AHMED

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINORITY AFFAIRS LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION No. 85

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.02.2017

## Haj Expenses

## *85.  SHRI SULTAN AHMED:

Will the Minister of MINORITY AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  measures  are  being  taken  by  the  Government  to  reduce  the  Haj expenses to meet the gradual subsidy downsizing as directed by the Supreme Court and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)  whether the Union Government has formulated guidelines for making accommodation and transport tender more competitive and if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  whether  Indian  Hajis  are  paying  more  as  compared  to  other  countries  for accommodation and transport, having same type of facilities; and
- (d)  if so, the  details  thereof  and  the  corrective  steps  being  taken  by  the Government in this regard including providing adequate facilities and transparent system of arranging accommodation for Haj pilgrims?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF MINORITY AFFAIRS (SHRI MUKHTAR ABBAS NAQVI)

- (a) to (d)  A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

*****

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) TO (d) OF LOK SABHA STARRED  QUESTION  NO.85  FOR  08.02.2017  RAISED  BY  SHRI  SULTAN AHMED REGARDING HAJ EXPENSES

- (a) Haj  expenses  are  incurred  on  air  travel  of  pilgrims  to  Saudi  Arabia,  their accommodation  and  travel  in  Makkah  and  Madinah  and  other  miscellaneous expenditure incidental to the Haj pilgrimage. The Government of India does not extend  any  direct  subsidy  to  individual  pilgrims  for  Haj.  However,  it  provides certain amount of subsidy to the Airlines ferrying the Haj pilgrims, which is the difference between the airfare fixed through tender and uniform fare paid by the pilgrims  to  the  Haj  Committee  of  India  (HCoI).  With  the  gradual  reduction  of subsidy, only airfare for the Haj pilgrimage may increase and it will not affect any other  expenses,  which  is  borne  by  the  pilgrims  on  actual  basis.  Indian  Haj pilgrims  are  provided  quality  facilities  and  services  commensurate  with  the charges  paid  by  them  in  conformity  with  the  rules  and  regulations  of  Saudi Government. It has been the constant endeavour of the Government and the Haj Committee of India to keep making improvements in the arrangements for the Haj pilgrims and provide them with better facilities and services.
- (b) Accommodation  and  transportation  of  Indian  Pilgrims  in  Saudi  Arabia  are arranged by the HCoI in association with the Consulate General of India (CGI), Jeddah. The general procedure and norms of Government of India are followed by  CGI,  Jeddah  for  hiring  of  accommodation  in  Makkah  and  Madinah.  For accommodation in Makkah, advertisements inviting offers from willing landlords, lessors  etc.  are  published  in  leading  newspapers  of  Saudi  Arabia  as  well  as Consulate General of India's website. Applications for building are invited online. To  ensure  that  hired  buildings  in  Makkah  conform  to  standards,  Building Selection  Team  (BST)  comprising  of  State/  Central  Government/  CGI  officials and Building Selection Committee (BSC) comprising of members of HCoI/ CGI visit, inspect and approve the accommodation, before hiring. Accommodation in Madinah is hired from licensed Building Rental Groups by inviting the interested parties through advertisement in the leading newspapers of Saudi Arabia as well as Consulate  General  of  India's website, followed by a scrutiny of their applications/  documents  and  interview  of  the  Groups  by  a  Madinah  Renting Delegation comprising of Members and officials of Haj Committee of India as well as Consulate General of India.

For  transportation of pilgrims, tender  applications are invited  from  Saudiregistered  bus  transportation  companies  through  advertisements  which  are published  in  the  leading  newspapers  in  Saudi  Arabia  as  well  as  Consulate General  of  India's  website.  Due  procedure  as  per  rules  &  regulations  of Government of India is followed for selection of the company.

- (c) and  (d)  No  Madam.  A  cost-comparative  analysis  of  Haj  expenditure  of  the pilgrims of the countries sending largest number of pilgrims of Saudi Arabia is as under:

| Countries   | Hajis Expenditure during Haj 2016 (approx)                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
|-------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Indonesia   | Rs. 2,10,000/- (excluding government subsidy of Rs 95,000)                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
| Pakistan    | Rs. 2,02,000/- (Rs. 1,75,000 Haj Package + 27,000 Personal Expenses) No Green Category                                                                                                                                                                          |
| Bangladesh  | Cat I - Rs 308,449 Cat II - Rs 260,454                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
| India       | Azizia - Rs 1,47,200 Haj Package + Rs 37,800 as Personal Expenses(Total - Rs 185,000/-) Green -Rs 1, 81,200 + Rs 37,800 as personal expenses (Total- Rs 219,000/- (Approx. Rs 37,800/- (SR 2100) is returned to Hajis before their embarkation to Saudi Arabia) |

(Source: enquires by CGI, Jeddah/HCol)

*****