International passport for Haj pilgrims
Rajya Sabha
In accordance with the decision of the Government of Saudi Arabia conveyed to the Government of India, all Haj pilgrims are required to travel on international passports, from Haj-2009 onwards. Government of India issued guidelines to all the Passport Offices after consultation with the Haj Committee of India and State Haj Committees to ensure that no Haj pilgrim faces any hurdle in obtaining his/her passport to undertake the pilgrimage. All passport offices were instructed that the Haj passports should be handed over to the Haj pilgrims / Haj Committee within the due date stipulated by the Committee to ensure that no Haji faced any difficulty in undertaking the pilgrimage.
The Government of India makes arrangements to facilitate the pilgrims going to Saudi Arabia through the Haj Committee of India and facilitates provision of accommodation and other logistical support for them. For efficient management and supervision of Haj arrangements, a large contingent of seasonal local staff, supervisors, data entry operators, drivers and messengers are appointed by the Consulate General of India, Jeddah. In addition, Doctors, Nurses and other paramedical staff, Coordinators, Assistant Haj Officers, Haj 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 Haj pilgrims. Medicines provided at these dispensaries and hospital are supplied from India and also procured locally. The government makes arrangements for providing polio, meningitis and influenza vaccinations for the pilgrims. The Haj Committee of India provides to the pilgrims information regarding confirmation of their seats, travel documents, transportation etc. The Government has taken a number of decisions to streamline the functioning of Private Tour Operators so that they provide proper services and facilities for the pilgrims. For Haj – 2009, two more embarkation points, Mangalore and Ranchi, were added to the already existing 17 embarkation points across the country.
This information was given by Dr.Shashi Tharoor, Minister of State, External Affairs in reply to a question by Shri Nand Kishore Yadav in Rajya Sabha Today.
TFK/KS
(Release ID :56165)