By TwoCircles.net News Desk,
Patna: In early period of this year government of Saudi Arabia announced that from Hajj-2009 onwards only those aspirants who possess international passport would be permitted to perform Hajj. The move certainly created tension for aspirants of Hajj especially from India where to get passport is not an easy task. Therefore it was expected that a number of aspirants could not miss the holy tour but thanks to the government aspirants got provisional international passports with the validity of 10 months which were to be surrendered after they return.
Dr. Shashi Tharoor, Minister of State for External Affairs in reply of a question informed the Rajya Sabha that after the decision of Saudi government, Indian government consulted with the Hajj Committee of India and State Hajj Committees and instructed all the Passport Offices to hand over passports to the Hajj pilgrims / Hajj Committee within the due date stipulated by the Committee to ensure that no Haji would face any difficulty in undertaking the pilgrimage.
On arrangement for pilgrimages in sacred cities he said: “The Government of India makes arrangements to facilitate the pilgrims going to Saudi Arabia through the Hajj Committee of India and facilitates provision of accommodation and other logistical support for them. For efficient management and supervision of Hajj arrangements, a large contingent of seasonal local staff, supervisors, data entry operators, drivers and messengers are appointed by the Consulate General of India, Jeddah.”
Regarding health care minister said: “Doctors, Nurses and other paramedical staff, Coordinators, Assistant Hajj Officers, Hajj Assistants and Khadim-ul-Hujjaj are sent from India on short-term deputation to Saudi Arabia. A hospital in Makkah and branch offices-cum-dispensaries in Makkah and Madina are set up for Hajj pilgrims. Medicines provided at these dispensaries and hospitals are supplied from India and also procured locally. The government provides polio, meningitis and influenza vaccinations for the pilgrims.”
He said also that government has taken a number of decisions to streamline the functioning of Private Tour Operators so that they provide proper facilities for the pilgrims and also the Hajj Committee of India has always been at services of pilgrims to provide information about confirmation of their seats, travel documents, transportation etc.
He further said that for Hajj – 2009, two new embarkation points -Mangalore and Ranchi- were added to the already existing 17 embarkation points across the country.