Over 10, 000 people are expected to perform Hajj this year from Jammu and Kashmir while per person expenditure to perform the Holy Pilgrimage is expected to be around Rs 3 lakh 70 thousand.
Safina Beigh, Chairperson J&K Hajj Committee (JKHC) told a press conference here that due to the abolition of the VIP quota this year, there has been an increase in the total number of people who would be able to perform Hajj.
While giving details, she said, out of the total number of quotas allocated to the Government of India, 80% will be allocated to the Haj Committee of India and the remaining 20% will be allocated to Hajj Group Organizers (HGOs).
About those who have performed the Hajj earlier through the Haj Committee of India, she said, such a person will not be eligible to apply. “In the case of Mehram for lady pilgrims and of companions accompanying pilgrims over 70 years of age, repeaters will be allowed on payment of additional charges as applicable from time to time.”
Beigh said that lady pilgrims and 70+ pilgrims utilizing the service of a repeater as “Mehram” must give a solemn declaration and undertaking to the effect that no first-time “Mehram” is available in the family.
“The 70+ pilgrim must give a similar solemn declaration and undertaking in support of his/her accompanying pilgrim.”
About the eligibility for Hajj, she said that the intending pilgrim must possess a passport issued by or before 10-03-2023 and that the Validity of the Passport must be 03/02/2024.
“The pilgrim must be physically and mentally fit/ healthy and should not suffer from severe Medical Diseases like terminal cancer, advanced cardiac, respiratory, liver or kidney, infectious tuberculosis disease,” she said.
Concerning the ladies travelling without Mehram, it was given out that women above 45 years of age can apply in groups of four while single ladies can also apply whose group may be formed by the Haj Committee of India.
“A maximum of 4 applicants comprising of family members or near relatives can apply in a single cover, and the order of priority will be first, 70+ Category Pilgrims, second, Ladies without Mehram and third will be the General Category Pilgrims.”
The Qurrah, Safina said, shall be conducted on the IHPMS Software which is maintained on the server of HCOI for the general category after allocating the seats to 70+ category and LWM Category Pilgrims.
“The entire government discretionary Quota stands cancelled from Haj-2023 onwards and the same will be merged into the General Pool for the benefit of common citizens.”
While the stay in Saudi Arabia is going to be for 30 to 40 days, the pilgrims will have to get their RT-PCR Test done before the start of a journey through government laboratories.
“Person with a disability who cannot travel alone must be accompanied by an able-bodied person having blood relation with the pilgrim. Assistance to elderly pilgrims will be provided by the Indian Haj Mission on a need basis,” she said.
Besides medical screening and fitness certificates, the pilgrims will have to have Covid 19 vaccination certificates. “All selected pilgrims, more than 2 years of age, are required to possess a certificate of inoculation with a single dose of meningitis vaccine. In addition, it is mandatory to get 2 doses of oral polio vaccine.”
The Haj Application Forms (HAFs) have been kept available on www.hajcommittee.gov.in and can be downloaded between 10-02-2023 to 10-03-2023.
