Govt gives Hajis reason to smile

There is finally good news for those who were made to run around seeking favours from the government quota to travel for Haj, but ended up nowhere. As per the latest directive, 11,000 seats across India, that come under the government quota, will now have to be decided earlier so that all seats are utilised for people travelling for Haj.

“A notice has been sent out by the Ministry of External Affairs and quotas will have to be in by June 30 latest,” confirmed Mohammed Owais, chief executive officer, Haj Committee of India (HCI).

Of the over 1.5 lakh pilgrims who travel from India every year, 1.15 lakh go with help from HCI, which subsidises the pilgrimage; the rest approach private operators. Of the 1.15 lakh seats, 11,000 are reserved for the government quota for which ministers, MPs and people holding high government offices can give recommendations to HCI for the travel.