Opinion The pilgrims burden
The Haj subsidy pricks a pilgrims conscience and isnt even value for money. End it forever
It is estimated that 1.7 lakh people will travel to Mecca from India to perform the Haj this year. Since 1994,the Government of India has provided subsidised air tickets to Haj pilgrims who enrol through a specially-constituted committee. This subsidy has been a bone of contention,continuing to generate a lot of debate. However,going by the data,it becomes evident that it remains an impromptu arrangement,plagued by ad-hocism and a complete lack of transparency.
It is claimed that every pilgrim was paying Rs 12,000 as airfare and the balance was borne by the state exchequer. The total cost to government was Rs 476.75 crore in 2007,rising to Rs 894.77 crore in 2008,and down to Rs 689.91 crore in 2009. Now,the government has increased the pilgrims share in the airfare to reduce the subsidy burden; they will have to shell out Rs 16,000 for airfare plus taxes. The amount may be as high as Rs 29,000 after including airport tax,operation tax and a few other charges levied by the charter aircraft operator.
Meanwhile,Saudi Airlines,considered one of the best on this route,charges nearly Rs 20,000 roundtrip for New Delhi-Jeddah. So,even while the government claims it provides cheap tickets and shares the burden,the pilgrims actually end up spending more than what they would have had they taken the private route.
Moreover,an Indian pilgrim going through the Haj Committee has to spend a minimum of Rs 92,000; if the subsidy is taken away the cost will increase by a fraction to Rs 1.04 lakh. In neighbouring Pakistan,the estimated cost for each pilgrim during Haj 2010 is around 2,38,000 Pakistani rupees (Rs 1,26,115). Even in Bangladesh,it costs 2,20,550 taka (Rs 1,44,465). In Indonesia,each pilgrim spent $3,422 (Rs 1,55,840) last year. However,they have created a trillion-rupiah fund which will facilitate a subsidy of $80 per pilgrim. So,even if subsidy is withdrawn Indian Haj pilgrims will be paying much less than their counterparts in the region.
These are not the only issues in this murky business. This year,of the 1.7 lakh pilgrims who will travel to Mecca from India,1.25 lakh will go through the Haj Committee and the rest will have to depend on registered private tour operators. It is the government which fixes the number of pilgrims who would go through these private tour operators. The whole process lacks transparency and has been questioned.
A case in point here is a judgment by the Kerala high court which quashed the governments 2010 Haj policy on the ground that it is arbitrary. The judgment came after the Centre refused to register more private tour operators something which stinks of a nexus between the bureaucracy and already-registered tour operators.
The Supreme Court refused to interfere in the governments policy of allocation of 45,491 pilgrims to 615 tour operators. However,it directed the Centre to mull over a new Haj policy for 2011,and consider new tour operators. In Pakistan,80,000 pilgrims are expected to perform Haj under the government scheme,and an equal number will go through the private organisers.
Also,there have been complaints from across the country of hardships the pilgrims face in having passports issued,primarily due to impediments created by delays in the police report. That should be seriously looked into by the Haj committee; steps need to be taken publicity and advertisements,for example so that willing pilgrims get their passports done in advance. Lessons can also be learnt from Indonesia where the department of religious affairs issued a passport to the pilgrims through the regional immigration offices within two days.
The problems dont end here. After the pilgrims reach Mecca they have to face a variety of problems with the accommodation rented by the Haj Committee. There are three categories: Green,which is within a radius of 1 km from the Kaaba,which costs 4,000 riyals (Rs 50,000); White,a radius of 1-1.6 km from the Kaaba,at 3,200 riyals (Rs 39,000); and Aziziya,2,600 riyals (Rs 31,500). The amount includes charges for accommodation and transportation.
I have visited these buildings; and in spite of the fact that the fare is charged arbitrarily,the facilities are not up to the mark. I found four to five pilgrims stacked in one small room. This year the government is yet to take these buildings on rent and I fear that pilgrims will have no other option but to stay in distant buildings even as they are asked to pay more money. Pakistani citizens are asked to pay just 3,600 riyals for the Green category and their government makes sure that the buildings are booked at least one year in advance.
Even the Khadim-ul-Hujjaj (servants to the pilgrims),a group of assistants sent on deputation by the state Haj committees to assist the pilgrims,have failed to perform their duties well. Also,there are complaints that the Indian consulate has not making enough medical arrangements for the pilgrims.
Whether it is Islamic or un-Islamic,this subsidy remains a controversial issue. As Muslims,we feel it is a burden on our shoulders. Certain organisations spewing communal venom across the length and breadth of the country have used this issue to gain mileage amongst the other communities. I categorically want the government to refrain from any policy labelled as Muslim appeasement by its adversaries.
As far as the Shariah is concerned,Haj is not compulsory for every Muslim. It is prescribed only for those Muslims who are financially well-off,who can bear the expenses; besides,it is also necessary that they have resources to the extent that when they leave for Haj their dependants are looked after properly.
It is my considered opinion that this burden of subsidy which pricks the conscience of every pilgrim embarking on the holy journey in particular and the Muslim community in general without actually being of any help to them in real terms should be taken away forever.
The whole policy needs to be revisited. Ad-hocism needs to give way to more transparency. The Haj Committee should be declared an independent body and empowered to bargain with airlines globally. An agreement could be reached for 10 years. This will not only make sure that the fares come down but also will put to rest the allegations of Muslim appeasement which keep cropping up time and again.
The writer is a Congress MP in the Rajya Sabha
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