Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi/Mangaluru

New Delhi/Mangaluru, Oct 8: In what may be termed as a major reform if it materializes in its proposed form, the draft of the new Haj policy, submitted to the Centre on Saturday October 7, is set to end the Haj subsidy with immediate effect from next year, and also allow women above the age of 45 years to perform the pilgrimage in a group of four without a male family member.

A government-appointed panel for revising India's Haj policy on Saturday recommended these revolutionary steps.

The proposed Haj Policy 2018-22, submitted to union minister for minority affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Saturday, has been drafted in light of a 2012 Supreme Court direction to gradually reduce and completely remove the subsidy by 2022.

"It is advisable that the existing reduction plan (phasing out of subsidy) be followed," according to the recommendations.

Haj subsidy is given to those who go through the Haj Committee of India and not through private operators. The subsidy amount has in the recent years been between Rs 650-700 crore.

Referring to the subsidy Naqvi said, "The Supreme Court decision clearly talked about abolishing the subsidy. We are trying our best to see that after the abolition of the Haj subsidy, the poor pilgrims are burdened least."

In another major reform, the draft policy proposes to partially quash an earlier rule that barred women Haj aspirants to travel without 'mehram', a close family member like husband, father or brother.

"Ladies above 45 years of age be allowed in a group of four or more to go for Haj without a mehram," the panel recommended. Women below 45, however, will have to be accompanied by a male family member, according to the draft policy that proposes to increase the quota for mehrams from 200 to 500.

Embarkation from Mangaluru to stop?

Among other recommendations, made by the panel headed by former secretary Afzal Amanullah, are bringing down the number of embarkation points from which pilgrims can take flights to Saudi Arabia from the present 21 to nine.

The embarkation points for Haj pilgrims from next year would be New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Lucknow, Kochi and Ahmedabad.

What this would effectively mean is that pilgrims from in and around Mangaluru, and even many from Kasargod and surrounding places, will not be able to fly to Saudi Arabia directly from the city for the annual pilgrimage. They will instead have to opt for other places like Bengaluru, Mumbai or Kochi.

The Haj centre in Mangaluru was established in 2009. Every year, hundreds of Haj pilgrims in several batches embark on special flights to Saudi Arabia from Mangaluru. Prior to their departure, camps are conducted in the city to provide immunization and other benefits to pilgrims.

However, the Haj pilgrims may be able to opt for sea route from Mangaluru. Hence, Haj centre may continue to serve them.

Ferrying Haj pilgrims by ships between Mumbai and Jeddah was stopped 22 years ago after which they were being sent by air from various embarkation points in India. In August, minister Naqvi had said that sea route may be re-introduced in view of cutting down travel expenses.

On the proposal to revive Haj pilgrimage by ship, Naqvi on Saturday said the Saudi government would be consulted and then it would float an expression of interest to guage the market for such travel.

Independent tour operators say travel by ship would drastically reduce the cost per pilgrim to around Rs 60,000, making it affordable to a larger section of the population.

With Agency Inputs