New initiatives have made Hajj easy for women, senior citizens: Safina Baig
Srinagar: Chairperson, Jammu and Kashmir Hajj Committee, Safina Baig Saturday said the nodal ministry has taken some excellent measures to make the holy trip easy for the women and senior citizens this year.
Addressing a news conference here, Baig said there will be no bar for people above 65 years of age as the Hajj Committee of India (HCOI) has withdrawn the upper-age limit for making the holy trip to Makkah and Madina.
She said the Hajj Committee of India has also approved ‘group pilgrimage’ for women in absence of their ‘Mehram’. She said the initiatives taken by the Union Ministry for Minority Affairs, also a nodal agency to conduct the Hajj pilgrimage, are appreciable.
“I welcome these people-friendly initiatives of the government. The Hajj Committee of India has taken a slew of measures to make the holy trip easy for senior citizens and women this year,” she said.
JKHC chairperson also said a male having performed Hajj through HCOI in the past, can also now accompany their spouses, who are yet to accomplish the dream.
“Women who haven’t yet performed the Hajj can now be accompanied by their spouses, even if they may have already performed the holy pilgrimage through HCOI in the past,” she said, while pointing out that this provision was not there previously.
She also congratulated the government for “ending the VIP culture” in the country, saying rich or poor, everyone will be equally treated henceforth. She said the Centre has done away with the discretionary Haj quota for pilgrims, keeping in view Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “resolve to end VIP culture” in the country.
“We used to have some additional quota which generally goes up to 6,000 in J&K being a Muslim majority area, but now we are mulling to make it 10,000. There are so many new things added in the policy by the government,” Baig said, adding there will be no bar for the people above 65 years of age to go on the pilgrimage as the government has withdrawn the upper-age limit.
She also said those wishing to leave for the Hajj can avail the online form free of cost and if anyone faces any problems, he/she could also get a hard copy from Hajj House.
She also said that those facing problems in getting their passports or whose travel documents have expired could also contact the Hajj House officials for assistance.
