Haj 2008: India

Indian Haj pilgrims will get better facilities: Ahamed

The 157,000 Indian pilgrims visiting Saudi Arabia for Haj this year can look forward to streamlined arrangements in terms of accommodation and other services, Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahamed has said.

Announcing the new initiatives, he said the pilgrims coming through the Haj Committee of India will be accommodated in tents within traditional boundaries of the city of Mina, the base camp for the pilgrimage. In previous years, pilgrims were put in tents which they complained were outside Mina. Ahamed also announced that the pilgrims would be allowed to carry a 'zamzam' water (holy water) can of 10 litres with them on their return journey at no additional cost. The Minister signed the 2008 Haj agreement with Saudi Haj Minister Fouad Al-Farsy in Jeddah.

The pact maintains the quota for India at 157,000, the same as last year, though New Delhi pressed for an increase by 15,000. Some 110,000 will come through the Haj Committee and the rest through private tour operators. "We have requested Saudi government to increase our quota by 15,000 this year so that maximum number of applicants could be accommodated. The Saudi authorities are actively considering our request.

If we get the additional quota it will be distributed among tour operators," Ahamed said. The Minister said the Indian mission in Jeddah is fully geared up to make this year's pilgrimage smooth. Haj Committee pilgrims will be put in exclusive Indian-only tents in Mina equipped with all necessary facilities, he said. Air India and Saudi Arabian Airlines will lift the pilgrims from 17 embarkation points in India.