The Indian pilgrims going for Haj – 2012 will have to bear an additional burden of nearly Rs 300 crore compared to last year.
The depreciation in the value of rupee against the dollar is primarily responsible for the additional burden that the Indian Haj pilgrims would be forced to bear. The Haj Committee of India, on an average, collects an amount in Indian currency for a value of 8,219 Saudi Riyals from each pilgrim. While last year, the rate of one Saudi Riyal was fixed at Rs 12.19, this year, as on Saturday, one Saudi Riyal was trading at Rs 14.75. At these rates, each pilgrim will have to pay an additional amount of Rs 21,224.96 compared to last year. This would take the additional amount to be paid by 1.25 lakh pilgrims to over Rs 265 core.
However, the rate of Rs 14.75 for one Saudi Riyal might experience several fluctuations as the final rate to be paid by the pilgrims would be decided only at the end of June. Further, the depreciation of rupee would also affect the spending by Indian pilgrims during their stay in the holy cities of Mecca and Madina. Therefore, the Indian pilgrims performing Haj – 2012 will end up paying an additional amount of Rs 300 crore.
According to Haj Committee of India’s CEO Mohammad Shakir Hussain, there might be a slight difference in the additional amount that the pilgrims would have to pay, but it was certain that Haj – 2012 would be costlier compared to last year.
Shakir Hussain also informed that all the selected pilgrims would have to deposit their original passports and first installment of Rs 51,000 by June 11. The last date for payment of second and final installment will be July 19. The flights for the pilgrims of Andhra Pradesh would begin from September 17, he said.
The CEO said that the Haj Committee was trying to get permission from the Saudi Government for using the metro rail services spread across 34 kilometres on Meena-Arafat-Muzdalfa-Meena route. If approved, the pilgrims would have to pay separately to utilise the services, he said.
Shakir Hussain said that the as per the norms of Saudi Government, on an average, this year space of 4×4 square metres would be allotted for accommodation of each Indian pilgrims. Further, for the first time, all pilgrims are being issued Health Cards which would contain their entire medical history. A comprehensive Haj Guide in English, Urdu and Hindi will also be distributed among the pilgrims, he said.
Regarding private tour operators, the CEO said that they could apply to Ministry of External Affairs till June 8 to get Haj quota.
Meanwhile, Shakir Hussain inaugurated the first training camp for the Trainees of Haj Committee at Haj House building at Nampally here on Saturday. As many as 90 participants including 29 trainees, 19 Khadimul Hujjaj and representatives of NGOs attended the camp. This year one trainee has been assigned for 200 pilgrims. Similar training camps will be held across the country in the next few weeks. (INN)