Centre confirms ‘no more subsidy will be given to Haj pilgrims’

The Union Minister for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi has on Tuesday confirmed that thousands of Muslims who go on Haj every year will no more be given subsidies or cheap air ticket from now on. For the first time in Independent India, 1.75 lakh Muslims will go on pilgrimage without a subsidy this year after Saudi Arabia increased India's quota by 5000. The Minister also said that this move will help the government save Rs. 700 crore which it will direct for the educational empowerment and welfare of girls of the minority community. Naqvi said that this subsidy was not benefitting Muslims anyway and now Saudi Arabia has also agreed to allow people to go on Haj by ship, which is cheaper than flying. In 2012, a constitutional bench of Supreme court had ordered the Centre to abolish subsidies on Haj by 2022. In pursuance of this order, the Ministry of Minority Affairs had asked the panel to suggest the framework for a new Haj policy for 2018-22, which had submitted its report in October. The new Haj policy for 2018-22 provides for the removal of subsidies and allowing the older women to travel without male guardians. The government had earlier allowed Muslim women above 45 to go on Haj without male members, provided they go in a group of four. Haj subsidy, besides cheaper fare on national carrier Air India, also includes help to pilgrims provided by the government to reach specially-designed Haj departure terminals at airports, food, and medical care.