Embassy of India, Kuwait

H.E. The Ambassador of Saudi Arabia,
Chairman and Members of Haj Committee of India,
Hon’ble Members of Parliament,
Chairmen and Members of the State Haj Committees,
Distinguished Religious Scholars,
Members of the Media,
Brothers & Sisters,

I consider it my great privilege to welcome you all to the All India Annual Conference for Haj 2006-II.

I am proud to be associated with Haj arrangements of the Indian pilgrims for over a decade including in the last two years as Minister of State for External Affairs, in-charge for Haj matters. It is a matter of added satisfaction that today’s All India Annual Haj Conference is taking place well in time and would provide useful guidance for Haj 2006-II.

The Annual Haj Conference is indeed an institutionalized platform for all stakeholders in Haj such as the political leadership, the Haj Committees, the Government departments, the Airlines representatives, Parliamentarians and learned men of religion to air their views through transparent discussions, exchange opinions and brainstorm on the Haj arrangements. The inputs and the insights provided by the Haj Conferences held in the past have enabled the Government to streamline the official framework entrusted with the Haj management and improve it in a systematic manner through administrative and legislative measures. Our Haj arrangements are acknowledged as one of the best in the world and appreciated by the Saudi authorities. Government is always sensitive to the needs of the Hajis and will continue to streamline and improve the arrangements further. The Government and the Haj Committee of India continuously strive to improve the accommodation arrangements for pilgrims in Saudi Arabia, their air transport to and from India and services and other facilities for them to make their pilgrimage comfortable and successful.

With this aim in view, a composite delegation of senior officials from the Ministry of External Affairs, the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Air India alongwith the Chairman and Members of Haj Committee of India, had visited Saudi Arabia on April 9-10 this year and had held extensive discussions with Saudi Arabian authorities and Saudi Arabian Airlines about various issues concerning our pilgrims. The delegation reviewed arrangements made during Haj 2006 and discussed plans for Haj 2006-II. This included means to find better accommodations at affordable costs in Saudi Arabia for the pilgrims during Haj 2006-II. After detailed discussions and keeping in view the fact that Saudi authorities have enhanced space norm per pilgrim from 3 meters to 3.5 meters since Haj 2006, and, as several buildings in Makka region have been demolished resulting in shortage of accommodations, parameters and rates were finalized, with some increase in categories I and II. No increase in rates has been stipulated in Category III and Azizia categories. A new category in “Sheesha” has been identified at the same rates as category III earlier.

As welfare and well-being of Haj pilgrims has always been a matter of utmost concern to the Government, I would urge the Haj Committee of India, the State Haj Committees, our Missions in Saudi Arabia and all concerned with Haj affairs to give high priority for the orientation of the prospective Haj pilgrims so that their pilgrimage is both proper and satisfying. The Government would continue to deploy administrative, para-medical and medical personnel to look after and assist the Indian pilgrims during their stay in Saudi Arabia. The deputationists will be chosen carefully to give representation to various regional and linguistic backgrounds. During Haj 2006, 182 Khadimmul Hujjaj were deputed as against 70 during Haj 2005. Various State Governments will be deputing Khadimul Hujjaj to provide additional support during Haj 2006-II also. During Haj 2006, State Haj Committees were allowed to depute one Khadim-ul-Hujjaj for every 300 pilgrims instead of 500 as in the past. I would request all States to kindly send the requisite numbers this year to Saudi Arabia. In addition, the Consulate General of India in Jeddah will be arranging the services of local volunteers from the Indian community to assist and help our pilgrims. There has been extensive use of Information Technology in Haj Management. There is computerization of pilgrim location and movement including of all those performing Haj through the private tour operators. The website of the Indian Consulate General in Jeddah, provides the whereabouts of all the pilgrims and their relatives in India can communicate with them during their stay in Saudi Arabia.

I am glad to inform you all that for Haj 2006, around 147,000 Indian pilgrims performed Haj of which some 100,000 went through the Haj Committee of India and about 47,000 through the Private Tour Operators. This was an all time record. We hope that in Haj 2006-II also we shall be able to send a similar number of pilgrims.

The accommodation arrangements for Haj 2006-II are being taken in hand in the right earnest. Arrangements have been made to send Building Selection Teams (BSTs) from various States during the period May 27 to September 9, 2006. As per past practice, the work of Building Selection Teams will be monitored by the Building Selection Committees (BSCs) who are members of the Haj Committee of India.

I am planning to visit Saudi Arabia soon to hold discussions with the Saudi Haj Minister, Dr. Foad bin Abdul Salam Al Farsi on the arrangements for Haj 2006-II. Based on our past experience, we shall flag our requirements and concerns regarding the needs of our pilgrims. We shall also be signing the Haj 2006-II Agreement with the Saudi authorities. Hopefully, towards the end of 2006, I shall try to make another visit to Jeddah, Makkah and Madina for personally inspecting the various arrangements made for our pilgrims.

As regards air transport, officials of the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Air India, who were also members of the Composite delegation, which visited Saudi Arabia, had preliminary discussions with the Saudi Arabian Airlines on April 10, 2006. Air India/Indian Airlines and Saudi Arabian Airlines will jointly organize the air transport of our pilgrims between India and the Kingdom.

During Haj 2005, we had achieved a major milestone as the opportunity for the Haj Committee pilgrims to land in Medina directly from India was made available. This has been greatly appreciated by the pilgrims and has also resulted in saving of some expenditure and facilitating better movement of pilgrims. Under this arrangement, some Indian pilgrims should be able to arrive in Medina directly from India during Haj 2006-II also. Proposal to add Bhopal or Indore, Jodhpur and Varanasi as additional embarkation points is also under consideration.

Being aware of the problems faced by the pilgrims going through the Private Tour Operators (PTOs) and taking note of the concerns of the Saudi Arabian authorities’ with respect to Haj arrangements by PTOs, the Government started the registration of PTOs from Haj 2003 onwards. This will continue for Haj 2006-II also. This has yielded positive results as the number of cases of pilgrims remaining unattended in Saudi Arabia has considerably declined. We will continue to strengthen the regulatory framework to ensure that these pilgrims are also able to perform a proper and satisfying Haj.

On their part, the Government and the Haj Committee of India constantly strive to make Haj as comfortable and affordable. While all possible measures are taken to cater to the diverse requirements of all our Haj pilgrims, considering the magnitude of the logistics of movement, accommodation and air transport, it is not always easy to satisfy all the pilgrims. I would, therefore, request the pilgrims to show patience and understanding. I appreciate that most of the pilgrims have been cooperative and appreciative of the government authorities. As improvement in Haj Management is a continuous process, I, on behalf of Government of India, would like to assure you that we would consider all suggestions that would emerge from the deliberations of this Conference to bring further improvement in Haj management.

May I take this opportunity to mention that the new Haj Committee Act 2002, which repealed the old law of 1959, provides for a more representative and broad-based character to the Haj Committee, envisages better financial accountability, provides for Parliamentary scrutiny and sets out clearly the responsibilities of the various organs concerned with Haj management. The new Haj Act confers statutory recognition to State Haj Committees. Six Members of the Central Haj Committee are to be elected from the six zones through the State Haj Committees. However, it is a matter of great concern that some of the States have still not constituted their Haj Committees in accordance with the new Act. May I request that those States who have so far not constituted their State Haj Committees in pursuance of the new Act, may please do so expeditiously so that the task of holding Zonal Elections can be undertaken without delay.

Before concluding, may I make two suggestions before this conference for its kind consideration. (i) suitable arrangements should be made so as to ensure that the pilgrims who have gone through the Haj Committee of India during the last five years do not avail of its facilities again. (ii) Pilgrims who had applied for pilgrimage in Haj 2006 but could not go due to paucity of seats, may be given priority during Haj 2006-II.

I wish to convey my grateful thanks to all of you for attending this conference. I assure you that we shall consider all suggestions that will emerge from the deliberations of this conference today to further improve the Haj management.

I thank you all for your gracious presence and extend my best wishes for a very successful All India Haj Conference. I personally thank H.E. The Ambassador of Saudi Arabia for attending the conference.

Thank you, Jai Hind.