Minister of State for Hajj and Auqaf, Syed Farooq Ahmad Andrabi, today chaired a meeting of State Haj Committee to take stock of various measures being put in place for smooth conduct of Haj-2017 pilgrimage.The meeting discussed various issues related to the annual holy journey besides discussed the arrangements being made by the different Departments for providing hassle free services to the devotees at Hajj houses Bemina and Jammu as well at Mecca and Medina Munawara in Saudi Arabia.The Committee Members MP Nazir Ahmad Laway, Legislators Mustaq Ahmad Shah, Saif-din Bhat, Zaffar Manhas, Commissioner Secretary Revenue, Mohammad Ashraf Mir, Executive officer SHC Syed Qamar Sajad, Aga Syed Muntazir Alsafvi almosvi, Moulana Farooq Ahmad,Imam & Khateeb Jamia Masjid Rail Head Jammu, Moulana Riyaz-ul-Haq Noorabadi, Khateeb Jamia Masjid Ziarat Syed Yaqoob Sahab Sonwar, Mehboob Iqbal and Dr. Nisar Ahmad Wani were also present in the meeting.
During the meeting, threadbare discussions were held on the matters related to infrastructure development, human resources, drainage network, macadamization, construction of auditorium, toilet block, purchase of beddings, and landscaping in Haj house Bemina. Detailed discussion was also held on the budget estimates of J&K Hajj Committee for 2017-18, which was fixed to the tune of Rs 2.48 crore and decisions were taken to upgrade the infrastructure and other facilities at the Haj house.The members gave their suggestions to further improve the facilities to hajjis’ at Haj house, Srinagar airport and at Saudi Arabia.To facilitate Hajj pilgrims, Andrabi, who is also vice chairman of the Committee, asked the Executive Officer, SHC to ensure that pilgrims do not face any inconvenience and their stay at the Hajj House Bemina be made comfortable.“Proper arrangements need to be put in place to ensure hassle-free stay as well as movement of pilgrims from other districts to the Hajj House, Srinagar and from there to the Srinagar International Airport,” he said.
The Minister said that Khudam-ul-Hujaj would be provided uniform for easy identification in the twin holy cities of Mecca and Medina to ensure that they perform their duties with utmost care. He said stickers would be provided by SHC with pilgrim particulars to all pilgrims. He said pilgrims have been also advised to ensure standard baggage by wrapping it with uniform green color.The meeting was informed that 35215 applications for Hajj 2017 were received this year. As on date 7965 seats have been allotted to the State.The Executive Officer apprised the Committee that 36 hajj trainers were selected and first phase of haj training was imparted as per the revamped training programme. The second phase of orientation/ training to the devotees is scheduled to be held from first week of July 2017.He also informed that vaccinations like meningitis, oral polio and seasonal influenza to the hajjis’ is also scheduled from first week of July 2017.The departure of Hajj chartered flights was tentatively scheduled from July 25 to August 4 as per the State slot schedule, while as the arrival phase of haj flights would begin from September 4, 2017.