The Union government’s decision of scrapping subsidy for Haj pilgrimage has been welcomed by members of the A.P. Haj Committee and the Muslim fraternity.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Haj Qurrah 2018, drawing of lots for final selection of Haj pilgrims, government whip and MLC M.A. Shareef said the decision was not unexpected since the Supreme Court verdict in 2012. The Muslim fraternity was aware of this and the subsidy amount had come down gradually in the past five years, he said.
‘Spend on education’
“Haj pilgrimage is only mandatory for the rich Muslims and poor are not compelled to do it,” Mr. Shareef, who is also member of the State Haj Committee, said.
He said the subsidy fund must be used to set up central educational institutions offering KG to PG education for the poor Muslim people and representations will be made to the government in this regard.
Addressing the gathering at the programme, AP Haj Committee chairman Momin Ahmed Husain said that pilgrims from the State did not get the subsidy from the Union government last year.
He said that the Centre’s decision would not impact the Haj tour programme and the number of pilgrims would only go up every year.
Mr. Shareef and Mr. Husain said that arrangement of a direct flight from Vijayawada, as promised earlier by the government, would largely benefit pilgrims and the programme.
Direct opportunity
Meanwhile, the subsidised Haj pilgrimage offer evoked moderate response from Muslim fraternity this year compared to previous years.
This has helped a majority of the applicants get the opportunity to travel to Makkah without having to undergo lottery draw and tension over the selection.
Against the State quota of 2,744 pilgrims, the Haj committee received 2,843 applications including 107 applications from persons aged 70 or above who are eligible without any lottery. For the remaining 2,637 quota 2,736 persons from 13 districts applied and applicants from 10 districts got selected without Qurrah since there was no competition from their respective districts. Only 4% of the applicants failed to make through the final selection.
On Wednesday, the online lottery was drawn for applicants from Anantapur, Visakhapatnam and Vizianagaram districts and the final priority list was announced. AP Haj committee CEO Md. Liyakath and others were present.
