Lok Sabha Question No. 6358 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-04-05
Subject: Air Fare for Haj Pilgrims
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: KURUPPASSERY VARKEY THOMAS

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 6358 (To be answered o the 5th April 2018)

Air Fare for Haj Pilgrims

## 6358. PROF KV. THOMAS

Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIA TION

be pleased to state: -

- (a) whether the air fare for the Haj pilgrims would be rationalized;
- (b) if s0, the details thereof; and
- (c) the facilities to Haj pilgrims both in India and Saudi Arabia? given

## ANSWER

Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION

(Shri Jayant Sinha)

(a) and (b): The Government floats a tender to invite bids from designated carriers of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and India for short-listing of airlines to carry Haj pilgrims from India to KSA & back: Based on the tendering process and bids received, L-l (Lowest bidder) is identified for each embarkation in India. Accordingly, embarkation point to the selected airline are allocated on the basis of lowest bid: point

(c): Various agencies are assigned different roles in making arrangements for Haj operations: Such as, Ministry of Minority Affairs (MoMA) is vested with the responsibility of making overall arrangement for Haj and its supervision. Haj Committee of India\_(HCoI), a statutory body under MoMA, with assistance of State/ Union Territory make arrangements for pilgrims in India. Consul General of India, Jeddah (CGI) has the responsibility to look after the pilgrims and to redress their grievances on reaching Jeddah/Madinah airport and while are in the KSA. Ministry of Civil Aviation arranges air transportation of pilgrims and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare arranges the vaccines to the pilgrims. Facilities provided to the pilgrims during the Haj operations are as annexed. they

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Following  facilities are provided to the Haj pilgrims by stakeholders involved in Haj operation:-

1. HCol invites application free of cost from intending Haj pilgrims The facility of on-line Haj Application and also e-payment facility have been made available to the applicants
2. 3\_ Ministry of External Affairs issues necessary instructions for timely issue of International Passport to the intending pilgrims
3. 2 Presently; there are 20 embarkation points across the country; Haj pilgrims are required to travel from the embarkation point specified for their area Flight intimation cards are directly sent to the pilgrims by post as well as  SMS and the details are also made available o its website by HCol The final booking is completed at the embarkation points by officials deputed by HCoL
4. 4\_ Training is imparted to the pilgrims through trainers, who are trained by HCoL The training camps after qurrah stage are organized at district level by the respective State Haj Committees (SHCs) to the selected pilgrims under the guidance and instructions of
5. 5\_ SHCs   through District Administration make arrangements for   vaccination in their respective State/UTs throughout the country: The vaccines are provided by Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.
6. 7\_ HCol arranges for Insurance for the pilgrims for accidental death/disability: In cases of cash/baggage loss relief is provided through the office of CGI, Jeddah: Group
7. 6 MoMA, , Government of India,  deputes   administrative and medical staff during Haj Season for providing round-the-clock  facilities to Haj pilgrims in the KSA CGI also provides various medical facilities to the Indian Haj pilgrims. Temporary Haj Medical Mission offices are opened Haj season for the purpose. during
8. 8 HCol   facilitate to  provide Saudi  Riyals in cash to Haj pilgrims at the   respective embarkation point through the bank selected by the HCol through tendering process.
9. As per Saudi regulations, accommodation in Makkah and Madinah  arranged  for the pilgrims in advance through the CGI, Jeddah:
10. 9\_ HCol set-up control room at Haj House, Mumbai the Outward/Inward phase of Haj  flights   for the smooth movement of Haj pilgrims  from  India to KSA & back Representatives from all participating airlines are also stationed in the control room CGL Jeddah set-up offices at Jeddah/Madinah Munawwarah airport and branch offices at Makkah and Madinah Munawwarah for providing necessary administrative information and guidance to the haj pilgrims. during
11. HCol sends Khadimmul Hujjaj to the KSA from all the states to look after the welfare of the Haj pilgrims in an organized manner:

Apart from the above, whenever any specific di= or grievance is brought to the notice, the agencies concerned take action to address the same. Every year; incremental improvements are made to facilitate the Haj pilgrimage. fficulty

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