By TCN News
Jeddah: Indian Consulate at Jeddah has been making plans for receiving over 125,000 Hajis from India for Hajj 1433 in the month of October.
Consulate General of India, Jeddah in cooperation with other entities in India and in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia like Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, Hajj
Committee of India, Ministry of Hajj, KSA, South Asian Moassasa, Maktabul Wakla, etc, facilitate arrangements for successful completion of Hajj.
Salient features of some of the main arrangements being made for the ensuing Hajj 2012 are given below:
I. *Accommodation*: This year, there are only two categories of accommodation viz. Green (0-1500 m) in Makkah and Azizia (Makhattal Bank and Bin Humaid). Around 60,000 units in Green category and 65,000 units in Azizia have been hired. For the first time in the recent years, we were able to acquire accommodation for all the pilgrims (about 125,000) well in
advance due to the efficacious measures taken in time and hard toil of the team. It has given us an opportunity to concentrate on further improvement of services provided at buildings. We have endeavored to reduce the number of buildings and concomitantly average size of buildings has increased as compared to 2011.
II. *Supply of bed sheet, pillow cover, bucket, etc* through an agency: It has been decided to get following items, which used to be supplied earlier by individual landlords, supplied through an agency to ensure that the quality of these items are good and uniform:
• Two brand new 100% cotton bed sheets at the time of check-in.
• Two brand new pillow covers.
• Two buckets per bathroom (up to 12 pilgrims).
• Two mugs per bathroom (up to 12 pilgrims).
• One broom brush and one cleaning brush for each room.
• One disinfectant (liquid phenyl 5 ltrs) for each toilet.
• One Air freshener for each room.
III. *Refilling of Gas cylinder* through Branch Offices: During this Hajj (2012), refilling of gas cylinder will be carried out through Branch Offices and payment would also be made by the concerned Branch Office. The new system will benefit the pilgrims tremendously as the pilgrims will get the services in time and they will not be paying for any refilling of gas cylinder.
IV. *Engagement of cleaning Agency*: Like last year, a reputed agency has been engaged to provide cleaning / plumbing services and other repair services of A.C, Lift, etc in emergency. The agency will also be undertaking one compulsory cleaning of all the buildings hired for pilgrims during Hajj. The agency will also arrange supply of water tank at buildings
in case of urgency.
V. *Supply of SIM cards to all pilgrims* in India itself: For the first time in the history of Hajj, Indian pilgrims would be provided STC (Saudi Telecom Company) SIM at a very nominal cost of SR 5/- before they leave India for the Kingdom. It will have talk time of SR 5/- and incoming calls
can be received with zero balance also. The SIM will be preloaded with contact numbers of all concerned officials of the Consulate as well as other important numbers. The SIM will be distributed to the pilgrims at different embarkation points in India and thus relatives of the pilgrims may have the Saudi contact number of the pilgrims in advance. Data of all the pilgrims with their contact number would be uploaded in the Consulates website which would be of great use in case the pilgrim gets missing or in any other emergencies.
VI. *Additional 30-bed Hospital*: In addition to a 50-bed hospital which is set up in Makkah during Hajj, a 30-bed hospital will operate in Azizia to meet the medical requirement of about 70,000 pilgrims who will be staying in Azizia.
VII. *Train Facility* in Mashaer Region: In the interest of smooth movement of pilgrims ( Mina-Arafat-Muzdfalifah-Mina), demand for providing train facilities to our pilgrims in Mashaer region was made at various levels in Ministry of Hajj, KSA and other offices. As a result of our
unremitting persuasion, we are likely to get the facility during forthcoming Hajj 2012.
VIII. *City check- in to continue*: Encouraged by the appreciation received from many quarters, it has been decided to continue remote city check-in which was introduced during last Hajj and was termed as a grand success by various agencies. This year also, baggage of the pilgrims would be collected from their buildings in advance and taken to the Airport.
IX. *Zam Zam*: An agreement has been signed with South Asian Moassasa for supply of packaged “can” containing 10 ltr of Zam Zam to all pilgrims. Packaged can of Zam Zam will be taken to all embarkation points in India and pilgrims would collect it at their respective embarkation points.
X. *Adahi*: It has been found that many pilgrims are cheated by unscrupulous elements in the name of Qurbani. Pilgrims are advised to make use of this Adahi project mandated by the Government of Saudi Arabia and run by Islamic Development Bank. Under this project, the pilgrims can buy coupons for slaughter of sheep/goat/cows/camels, they want to sacrifice
during Hajj. Details of the project are available on
http://www.adahi.org/adahisite/default.aspx
XI. *Vishwa Yatra Foreign Travel Card* (VYFTC): Upon request of Consulate General of India, Jeddah, State Bank of India, last year, launched Vishwa Yatra Foreign Travel Card denominated in Saudi Riyal to cater to the needs of Hajj and Umrah pilgrims from India. Under the scheme, a prepaid foreign currency card is issued in India which can be operated
like any other ATM card. All necessary safety measures are taken to maintain confidentiality and to prevent misuse of the card. The cards can be obtained at embarkation points in India.
XII. *Food at Mina*: Efforts are being made to get food supplied by Moallims to their respective pilgrims in Mina and a positive response from South Asian Moassasa is expected.