HAJ COMMITTEE of INDIA Annual Report CONTENTS
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HAJ COMMITTEE OF INDIA Annual Report 2014-15 CONTENTS I. Introduction ...................................................................................................1-2 II. Constitution of Haj Committee of India......................................................... 3-5 1. Notification 2. Composition III. Standing / Sub Committees............................................................................ 6-7 IV. Establishment...............................................................................................8-10 V. Meetings and Conference.........................................................................11-12 VI. Haj Policy 2013-2017..................................................................................13-21 VII. Haj Action Plan............................................................................................22-25 VIII. Norms for Haj-2014....................................................................................26-35 1. Haj Application Forms for Haj-2014 2. Distribution of Quota 3. Qurrah (Draw Of Lots) 4. Advance Haj Amount 5. Processing of International Passports 6. Computerization of Data 7. Selection of Pilgrims and Waiting-List Confirmation IX. Visit of Delegation.......................................................................................36-37 1. Building Selection Work For Haj-2014 2. Renting Delegation X. Orientation / Training of Pilgrims for Haj-2014..........................................38-39 XI. Other Arrangements for Pilgrims of Haj-2014............................................40-42 1. Vishwa Yatra Foreign Travel Card In Saudi Riyals 2. Mobile Sim Cards 3. Medical Screening of Pilgrims 4. Catering At Madinah Munawwarah 5. Zamzam Water Annual Report 2014-15 HAJ COMMITTEE OF INDIA XII. Air Charter for Haj-2014.........................................................................43-47 1. Embarkation Points 2. Operation of Haj Charter Flights 3. On Time Performance of the Airlines on Flights Operation 4. Standardization of Baggage 5. City Check-In XIII. Haj Amount 2014……………………………………………………………………………..48-52 1. Remittance 2. Selection of Bank and Fixation of Exchange Rates 3. Airfare 4. Group Accident Compensation Scheme 5. Final Accounts of Haj Committee of India XIV. Casualties during Haj-2014………………………………………………….…..……..………53 XV. Haj Review Meeting & Bilateral Haj Agreement ................................. 54-55 XVI. Norms for Haj-2015...............................................................................56-57 1. Haj Announcement – 2015 2. Haj Application Forms for Haj-2015 3. Advance Haj Amount XVII. Orientation / Training of Pilgrims for Haj-2015...........................................58 XVIII. IAS & Allied Courses (Coaching & Guidance Cell)..................................59-60 XIX. Mahanama Haj Magazine and Staff Welfare.............................................61 XX. Right to Information Act..............................................................................62 Guidelines and provisions applicable for Haj-2015 .............................63-108 HAJ COMMITTEE OF INDIA Annual Report 2014-15 I. INTRODUCTION Haj Committee of India (HCOI) is a statutory body, constituted under the Haj Committee Act, 2002 (No.35 of 2002). A brief historical background of the Committee shows its evolution from a local body to a national one. The Haj Committee, Bombay came into existence in the year 1927, with the then Commissioner of Police as President and prominent Muslim Public Representatives as Members. Subsequently, the Port Haj Committees Act of 1932 was enacted, to establish Committees in the Principal Ports of Pilgrim Traffic, to assist the Muslim Pilgrims to Haj, at Calcutta and Bombay. It was followed by the Haj Committee Act of 1959 (No.51 of 1959), which established a Central Haj Committee in the Port of Bombay for assisting Muslim Pilgrims for Pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia, Syria, Iraq, Iran & Jordan and for matters connected therewith. 2. As a global phenomenon, the pilgrims’ travel by ships started declining and Air travel was introduced for Indian Haj Pilgrims also. From the year 1995 travelling of Haj Pilgrims by Sea-Route was fully discarded and all the Pilgrims travelled for Haj through Air. After introduction of air travel, other Embarkation Points were introduced in additions to Bombay. The number of Embarkation Points went on increasing year after year and today the Haj Charter flights operation is being carried out through Twenty One (21) Embarkation Points in the Country. 3. With the increased number of Embarkation Points, the management of Haj also diversified. It was felt necessary to have appropriate representation from all parts of the country in the Haj Committee of India. Accordingly, Haj Committee Act 2002 (No.35 of 2002) was enacted, envisaging representation from all parts of the country. Haj Committee of India has been established for making necessary arrangements & assisting Indian Pilgrims to perform their Haj Pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia. It is a non-profit organization, rendering services without having any commercial objectives. It does not receive any grant / aid from any source including the Government of India. All its administrative expenses are met out of the small amount collected as “Establishment/ Documentation Charges” from the Haj Pilgrims. 4. Haj Committee of India functions under the administrative control of the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India and acts under its directives and supervision pertaining to the finalization, implementation and execution of the annual Haj Plan. Under Section 51 of the Act, the Central Government has power to issue directions to the Haj Committee of India and the State/Union Territory Haj Committees, which are binding on the HCOI and the State/Union Territory Haj Committees. The basic duty of the Haj Committee is to collect and disseminate information useful to Page 1 Annual Report 2014-15 HAJ COMMITTEE OF INDIA Pilgrims, to advise and assist Pilgrims during their stay in the city while proceeding on or returning from Pilgrimage, in all matters including vaccination, inoculation, medical inspection and to co- operate with the local authorities concerned in such matters, to give relief to pilgrims in distress, to finalize the annual Haj Action Plan, to approve budget estimates of the Committee, to co-ordinate with the Central Government for securing travelling facilities for pilgrims, to look after the welfare of Pilgrims, to work in the interest of Pilgrims and to discharge such other duties in connection with Haj as may be prescribed by the Central Government. 5. Government of India fixes the Quota (Number of Pilgrims) of Haj Committee every year in terms of the Bilateral Agreement with Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Accordingly, HCOI prepares the plan for the Pilgrims. As the Nodal Agency, HCOI coordinates the various activities of Haj management with the help of various agencies. The activities of Haj Committee include Announcement of Haj Programme, Receipt of Haj Application Forms & Passports through State Haj Committees throughout the country, Preparation of Pilgrims Computerized Data, Obtaining Haj Visa on Passports from the Saudi Consulate/Saudi Embassy stationed at Mumbai/Delhi respectively. Inoculation of Pilgrims is done with assistance of Ministry of Health, Air travel arrangements through Ministry of Civil Aviation and Transport/Accommodation arrangements in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia through Consulate General of India, Jeddah. The Haj Committee of India, with support of Government of India makes elaborate arrangements for the welfare of Haj Pilgrims and strives to improve the facilities provided to them every year. 6. Government of India has all along been providing every possible assistance to the Indian Haj Pilgrims to facilitate them to perform Haj rituals in a befitting manner. Haj arrangements are one of the most complex organizational tasks undertaken outside Indian borders. Elaborate arrangements for the welfare of Haj Pilgrims are made in advance. Although core Haj period is only of a five day duration but it is a year long managerial exercise. Government of India also deploys doctors, nurses and other para-medical staff on short-term deputation to Saudi Arabia. Extensive medical orientation is provided to the pilgrims in the community centers’ set-up in Makkah and Madinah by the Consulate General of India, Jeddah. Medicines are provided at these dispensaries and hospitals supplied from India and procured locally. Besides, a large administrative contingent consisting of Coordinators, Assistant Haj Officers and Haj Assistants is deployed to provide necessary assistance to the pilgrims. These officers are monitored and controlled by Consulate General of India, Jeddah. Page 2 HAJ COMMITTEE OF INDIA Annual Report 2014-15 II. CONSTITUTION OF HAJ COMMITTEE OF INDIA II (1) NOTIFICATION 1. The Haj Committee Act, 2002 (No.35 of 2002) came into force w.e.f. 5th December, 2002 vide Notification No. M(Haj)-1181/33/99 dated 5th December, 2002. 2. The Haj Committee of India is constituted by Ministry of External Affairs with the total number of 23 members for every three years. The present constitution of the members of Haj Committee of India is for 2013-2016. 3. The composition of Haj Committee of India constituted under the Haj Committee Act, 2002 (No.35 of 2002), vide Notification No.M(Haj)-1183/60/2012 dated 6th May, 2013 is as under:- (A) Members nominated under sub-section (i) of Section 4 of the Act. i) Mr. Salim Ansari, Member of Parliament