By andalib akhter /AMN
Union Minister for Minority Affairs, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, today launched the trilingual website for Haj affairs. The website http://www.haj.gov.in is in Hindi, Urdu and English languages. The Secretary(MA), Joint Secretary (Haj and Wakf), senior officers of the ministry, Haj Committee of India and NIC were also present on the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister informed that the website will facilitate online application for Haj. Besides giving information about Ministry of Minority Affairs, Haj Department, Haj Pilgrimage, rules and regulations on Haj, Haj Committee of India and private tour operators, the website also has Do’s and Don’ts during Haj and also a film informing about various aspects of the pilgrimage, he added.
Referring to preparations for next Haj, the Minister said Haj 2017 has already been announced and from 2nd January 2017, Haj Committee of India will start receiving the application. In this connection, Naqvi held a meeting with Saudi Arabia Ambassador Dr. Saud Mohammed Alsati here today and discussed issues concerning next Haj pilgrimage in detail.
Naqvi informed that several important suggestions on Haj pilgrimage have been received and are moving forward keeping in mind these suggestions. Discussions have been held with officials of Civil Aviation Ministry to provide aircraft with all modern facilities for Haj pilgrims, headded.
The website is a one stop facility to provide all necessary information relating to Haj management in one place. The website features include information on various agencies involved in Haj management, useful contacts of the central and state Haj authorities, location maps of State Haj Houses, location maps of accommodation sites in Makkah and Medina etc., and useful links to the website of Haj Committee of India and Consulate General of India, Jeddah.
Every year Government of India deputes administrative and medical officials on temporary deputation to CGI, Jeddah for 2-3 months. This website provides link for the prospective applicants to enable them to apply online through the dedicated portal. The website also hosts information about the Private Tour Operators(PTO). This would help the prospective pilgrims to gather information about the services provided by the PTO. It also has provision for getting feedback from users and for registration of public grievances.
Haj matters have been transferred from Ministry of External Affairs to Ministry of Minority Affairs with effect from 1st October, 2016. Ever since, the preparations for Haj 2017 have been undertaken and efforts are being made to bring about further improvements in the Haj management process so as to make Haj Pilgrimage more convenient, affordable and a memorable experience for the Haj pilgrims.