Media Release

Jeddah, Sep 17: India Fraternity Forum (IFF) has completed all the arrangements for the Hajj volunteer Service 2015. With the twelfth consecutive Hajj volunteer service ahead, IFF has satisfactorily completed the preparations of all departments - registration, training, transportation, logistics, medical and media – days before the commencement of Haj.

The forum has further expanded the Hajj services successfully to India helping out the pilgrims proceeding for Haj through guidance classes focusing on the spirit of Haj and its rituals, instructions to perform the rituals in a safe and healthy environment. Guidance classes were held in Chennai, Coimbatore, Tirunelveli and Kayalpattinam in Tamil Nadu and Mangaluru in Karanataka also in Malappuram, Erattupetta, Aluva and Kannur of Kerala state. The classes with presentation of photos and video clips and updates of the holy sites gave a remarkable experience to the pilgrims.

Last year, the Hajj Safety Guide prepared by India Fraternity Forum was released by Oommen Chandi, chief minister of Kerala and this year the guide has been published in Malayalam, English, Tamil, Kannada and Urdu languages and distributed to the Haj pilgrims who attended the classes at various locations in India.

The volunteer service at the airport of Madinah and Hajj terminal of KAIA Jeddah had begun since the first Haj flight from India landed in the Kingdom, engaging many groups of 5 volunteers each, on a daily basis.

In Makkah IFF engages 70 volunteers, including 4 full timers who focus the areas of Haram, hospitals, clinics and accommodation of Hajis in Aziziyah and on Fridays, more volunteers are engaged in Makkah to help and guide the pilgrims.

In Madinah, IFF Kerala chapter in coordination with the Kerala Hajj Welfare Forum is serving the Hajis, where as more than two dozen IFF volunteers from other states are engaged in serving the Hajis hailing from different Indian states.

In addition to the volunteers now serving in Makkah, arrangements have been completed for deploying 800 volunteers to help the pilgrims during Dhul Hajj 8-13. This will include volunteers from Jeddah, Riyadh, Dammam and Yanbu. Volunteers are distributed under various teams for field, tent, transportation, support services, help desk, medical and media.

Forum will also engage a 25 member strong women volunteer team to serve the female pilgrims on 11 and 12 of Dhul Hajj. Women's wing of IFF volunteers has been in service activities for the last five years and they provide help and support to the weak and sick female pilgrims to avail medical assistance, whenever required.

75% of the training for volunteers and supporting team has been completed in various Indian languages. Training for the women's wing was conducted by the team headed by Dr Muneera Balahmar (head of preventive medicine, MOH)

As per the request of Indian Pilgrim Welfare Forum (IPWF), this year also IFF will prepare and provide the Map of Mina for the use of volunteers. IFF is thankful for the support of the Consulate of India, Indian Haj Mission, World Assembly of Muslim Youth (WAMY), South Asian Mutawwif Organization the Ministry of Health (MOH) etc in serving the guests of Allah.

This year, IFF Hajj volunteer service will be supervised by an eleven (11) member committee including Abdul Rauf Cherur (coordinator), Mudassir (asst coordinator), Mohammed Sadiq (volunteer captain), Hakkeem Abdulla Kannur (vice captain).

IFF was represented and attended by Shamsuddin KM (regional president IFF), Mohammed Ali (regional secretary), Abdul Rauf (volunteer service coordinator), Irshad Ahmed (president, IFF Urdu and north Indian chapter), Mohammed Shareef (president, IFF Tamil Nadu chapter.)