Lok Sabha Question No. 169 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-07-20
Subject: Indian Haj Pilgrims
Ministry: MINORITY AFFAIRS
Asked by: Sajda Ahmed

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINORITY AFFAIRS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No.169

ANSWERED ON 20.07.2023

## INDIAN HAJ PILGRIMS

## 169. SHRIMATI SAJDA AHMED:

Will the Minister of MINORITY AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has taken note of the hardships and difficulties suffered by Indian Haj Pilgrims in Saudi Arabia during Haj 2023;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the action taken thereon;
- (c) the reasons for not permitting the adequate Khadim-ul-Hujjaj (KuH) from West Bengal to travel to Saudi Arabia;
- (d) whether  the  Government  has  inspected  the  amenities  and  accommodations  before allowing accommodation in Aziziyah in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA); and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF MINORITY AFFAIRS (SHRIMATI SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

(a) and (b) Haj is one of the most  complex  organizational tasks undertaken by Government of India outside Indian borders. Every year around 1,75,000 Indian perform Haj pilgrimage through Haj Committee of India and Haj Group Organizers registered by the Ministry. Considering the complexity involved, the participation of various Ministries of the Government of India, Haj Committee of India, State Haj Committees and Consulate General of India are required for ensuring smooth and safe Haj pilgrimage.

This  year,  a  number  of  new  initiatives  have  been  taken  by  the  Government  to improve the overall Haj experience of the Indian Haj pilgrims. These initiatives include, inter alia, abolition of discretionary quota; increase in embarkation points from 10 in 2022 to  20  in  2023;  allowing  single  females  under  Lady  without  Mehram  category(LWM); direct involvement of Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoH&FW) and its agencies for Medical Screening of pilgrims in India, their vaccination and hospitals/dispensaries in Saudi  Arabia  during  Haj  period;  making  Haj  inclusive  though  special  provisions  in  Haj policy for  women,  divyangjans  and  old  age  pilgrims;  Selection of  Administrative Deputationists  from  CAPFs  (thereby  ensuring  better  professionalism  and  assistance  to pilgrims  in  Saudi  Arabia);  doing  away  with  non-refundable  application  fees  of  Haj Committee of India (HCoI) pilgrims; cost cutting in  Haj package of  HCoI by removing non-essential      components; and reduction in insurance cost charged per pilgrim by HCoI.

In  Saudi  Arabia,  the  Consulate  General  of  India,  Jeddah,  has  put  in  place  a  robust grievance  redressal  cell  to  redress  issues  of  Indian  Haj  Pilgrims  in  real  time  and  all necessary  action  to  mitigate  the  hardships  as  and  when  brought  to  the  notice  of  Indian authorities in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), has been taken. To further strengthen the mechanism of grievance redressal and to provide better facilities to pilgrims, a feedback portal  has  also  been  developed  for  obtaining  pilgrim  feedback  and  upgrading  the  Haj services  by  the  Ministry.  Further,  considering  the  fact  that  Haj  is  performed  on  foreign land, the Indian Mission in KSA also ensures that any pertinent issues/problems brought to their notice requiring intervention of KSA authorities, are taken up with KSA authorities through diplomatic channels for prompt resolution of the same.

(c) West Bengal State Haj Committee (SHC) was required to nominate adequate numbers of Khadim-ul-Hujjaj (KuH) who fulfil the eligibility criteria as per the KuH circular dated 29.03.2023  of  Haj  Committee  of  India.  Despite  repeated  requests  by  Haj  Committee  of India, West Bengal SHC did not forward nominations of adequate numbers of candidates eligible for selection as KuHs, as per the norms prescribed for KuH. Only 19 candidates for KuHs nominated by West Bengal SHC were found eligible against the State Quota of 28 and all these 19 eligible candidates had been selected as KuHs for Haj-2023.

(d) and (e) During Haj-2023, the building selection for the Indian Haj pilgrims has been done  by  a  Inspection  cum  Selection  Committee  comprising  officials  /  members  from Ministry  of  Minority  Affairs,  Haj  Committee  of  India  and  eminent  members  of  Civil Society along with the office of Consul General of India, Ministry of External Affairs. All the  facilities  and  services  for  the  pilgrims  were  finalised  as  per  the  due  process  by  the Consul General, under close supervision of the Ambassador of India to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.