In 2010 the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had proposed to cut the subsidy for Hajj by 10 per cent each year, as in 2008 the subsidy rose to Rs 827 crore
With more than 50 percent less subsidy being provided by the government for Haj 2017 as compared to last year, the pilgrims to embark their journey from Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Hyderabad will not be benefited under the subsidy this year.
In 2010 the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had proposed to cut the subsidy for Hajj by 10 per cent each year, as in 2008 the subsidy rose to Rs 827 crore. However, the Supreme Court two years later directed the government to gradually reduce the subsidy so that in 10 years it will phase out.
According to media reports, in a meeting held on Saturday at the Haj Committee of India’s Mumbai Office, it was hinted that the subsidy might end before 2022 and suggested that the pilgrims be sent to Haj via ship once the subsidy ends.
“As per the government announcement, a subsidy of Rs 380 crore was expected for Haj 2017 but finally, an amount of Rs 200 crore has been sanctioned. Last year, the government had granted around Rs 408 crore subsidy, and we divided the subsidy among all Haj pilgrims equally so that airfare remained the same. Last year, we recovered a sum of Rs 45,000 from each pilgrim towards airfare,” told Ata-ur-Rehman, CEO, Haj Committee of India (HCI) to an English daily.
“Now with a subsidy of Rs 200 crore in hand, the airfare per head is expected to be more than Rs 62,000 and the actual cost of tickets for Haj from Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Hyderabad embarkation points is less than Rs 62,000 without subsidy,” he added.
Last date extended
The last date for the payment of the first installment of Rs 81,000 per person has been extended from 5 to April 13. The pilgrims can make payments in any branch of the State Bank of India or Union Bank of India using the account number 32175020010 (FEE TYPE 25) and 318702010406009, respectively. The pilgrims can also make payments through e-payment on the website: www.hajcommittee.gov.in.
However, the Kashmir State Haj Committee has noticed that some pilgrims are wrongly depositing the amount in state Haj committee’s official account.
According to the procedure, the provisionally selected pilgrims will have to submit a medical screening, fitness certificate, original passports, a photograph and bank challan receipt.
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