Lok Sabha Question No. 1127 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-02-08
Subject: Haj Subsidy
Ministry: MINORITY AFFAIRS
Asked by: BHARAT SINGH, ASADUDDIN OWAISI, SUKENDER REDDY GUTHA, MANSHANKAR NINAMA, NAGARAJAN P.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF MINORITY AFFAIRS LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No.1127 TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.02.2017

## Haj SUBSIDY

1127.  SHRI BHARAT SINGH SHRI ASADUDDIN OWAISI SHRI GUTHA SUKENDER REDDY SHRI MANSHANKAR NINAMA SHRI P. NAGARAJAN:

Will the Minister of MINORITY AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) the total Haj Subsidy being offered to Haj pilgrims;
- (b) the total amount one pilgrim has to deposit for Haj pilgrimage;
- (c) whether the Government is considering to scrap the subsidy given to Haj pilgrims and revise the guidelines in this regard;
- (d) if so, the details thereof along with the proposal floated, if any, to cut the subsidy by 10 percent every year;
- (e)  whether representations have been received in the Ministry in this regard; and
- (f)  if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto?

## ANSWER

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

- (a)  &  (b)  The  responsibility  for  making  air  travel  arrangements  for  Haj  pilgrims identified  by  the  Haj  Committee  of  India  (HCoI)  is  with  Ministry  of  Civil  Aviation (MoCA). The pilgrims deposit a fixed amount decided on year to year basis towards airfare  to  HCoI  and  the  balance  fare  payable  to  the  Airlines  is  paid  by  MoCA  as subsidy to facilitate the Haj pilgrims. The subsidy given by the Government during last three years and current year and the amount deposited to HCoI by each pilgrim towards airfare is as under:

|   Year | Total subsidy including service tax (Rs. In crore)   | Amount deposited to HCoI by each pilgrim towards airfare (in Rs.)   |
|--------|------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------|
|   2013 | 680.03                                               | 28,000                                                              |
|   2014 | 577.07                                               | 35,000                                                              |
|   2015 | 529.51                                               | 42,000                                                              |
|   2016 | 405.00 (approx)                                      | 45,000                                                              |

The total amount charged from each Pilgrim varies depending on the category of accommodation  and  the  amount  of  airport  charges  for  the  embarkation  point plus the fixed amount deposited towards airfare. For Haj 2016, the total amount for  Azizia  category  was  Rs.1,85,000/-  (approx.)  and  for  Green  Category  was Rs.2,19,000/- (approx.).

- (c) to (f) As per directions of the Supreme Court to progressively reduce Haj subsidy so as to completely eliminate it within a period of 10 years, Haj subsidy has been gradually reduced from Rs.836.56 crore in 2012-13 to Rs. 405 crore (approx) in the year  2016-17  and  various aspects linked to it are  determined and implemented. Representations on various aspects of Haj including Haj subsidy are  received  in  the  Ministry  from  time  to  time,  which  are  considered  as  per existing Policy of the Government.

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