All the 125,000 persons selected by HCOI will be entitled to go on Haj pilgrims this year. The private tour operators (PTOs) will bear the brunt of 20% cut in the total quota.

The PTOs will be able to ferry on 11,000 pilgrims against their quota of 45,000. However, in the next year the PTOs will be compensated for the cut in the quota.

A high level committee will be set up as directed by the Supreme Court to look after the arrangements made for Haj pilgrims.

Inaugurating the 29th All India Annual Conference for Haj 2013 here on Thursday, the Indian External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid assured : “There will no cut in the number of persons selected by HCOI which is 125,000 as over 50% of the selected persons have already deposited money.”

He further clarified that the PTOs will bear the burnt of 20% cut in the total quota. However, in the next year the PTOs will be compensated for the cut in the quota.

Earlier, India had negotiated with Saudi Arabia for a quota of 170,000 Indian pilgrims for Haj this year based on 2001 Census figures – 125,000 to be selected by HCOI and 45,000 to be ferried by PTOs. But Saudi Arabia later informed that due to massive ongoing construction work around Haram Sharief it would not be possible to accommodate increasing flow of pilgrims. Hence, it affected a cut of 50% in the quota for its domestic pilgrims and 20% cut in the quota for foreign pilgrims.

Thus, India’s overall quota of 170,000 is reduced to 136,000. The selection of pilgrims for Haj is done by HCOI through computerised lot on basis of statewise quota.

Khurshid clarified that as per the directions of the apex court a devotee can go for Haj pilgrim through HCOI against subsidy once in lifetime. But if the person’s wife wants to accompany him or an old age person’s attendant wants to accompany him, they can do so but not against any subsidy from the Government.

There are 21 embarkment points in India from where the pilgrims can emplane for Jeddah. In Hyderabad and Bengaluru shelters have been arranged for where the bagged of pilgrims can be collected for sending directly to the airport and the pilgrims will be given boarding cards to proceed to the airport directly. Many participants in the Conference demanded that such facilities should be extended to other embarkment points.

The Haj pilgrimage will be from September 7 till November 18.

Khurshid said that Saudi SIM cards will be provided to pilgrims and accommodation, this year, has been located slightly at distances due to ongoing construction activity in Saudi Arabia. The pilgrims will be provided with bedsheets, pillow covers and also two gas cylinders for a group of 30. Zam Zam will be provided to them on their return at airport.

He suggested creation of a Haj Fund by willing pilgrims on the lines of that in Malaysia.

The Chairman of Haj Committee of India, Qaiser Shamim said that India should ask for an increase in Haj quota from Saudi Arabia as the present quota is based 2001 census figures. Now the quota should be based on 2011 census figures.

Shamim demanded more autonomy for HCOI in matters of Haj pilgrimmage.