Haj season 2016 to begin from January

Hyderabad, Nov 20 (INN): The Haj Season 2016 would start from January 2016 with the expectation that the Haj Quota for both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh would be enhanced proportionate to the ratio of Muslim population in those states as per census 2011, declared Prof. S. A. Shukoor, Special Officer of Telangana State Haj Committee, on his return from New Delhi after attending the meeting of Chairmen and Executive Officers of State Haj Committees.

Prof. Shukoor said that the Haj Application Forms would be issued and accepted from January 2016. The meeting held yesterday in New Delhi reviewed arrangements for Haj 2015 and considered various measures for the next year's Haj Programme. He said that in the meeting he raised several issues and difficulties faced by the Telangana State Haj Committee in making arrangements for departure of 16 Haj Flights in a short time of seven days and urged the Haj Committee of India, HCI, to allot just two flights a day, so that arrangements can be made conveniently. He also urged the HCI to consider distribution of suit cases to the pilgrims from the Haj Committee and said that it should be made optional.

He also urged to maintain the record of four years of all the Haj applicants, as most of the applicants do not keep their record safe, causing difficulties in making applications under Reserved Category, the HCI agreed to implement his suggestions.

Qaiser Shamim, Chairman of HCI presided over the meeting, while Ata-ur-Rehmaan CEO, Marghoob Ahmed, Vice President and Mr. Roshan Baig Karnataka Minister also attended the meeting.

Giving the status of Haj Applications in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, as he represented both the states, Prof. Shukoor said that owing to non allotment of Haj Quota for Telangana as per 2011 census a large scale disappointment was noticed during last year, as against the Quota of 2760 the number of Haj Applicants were 16963 causing disappointment to over 14,000 persons, while in AP as against the quota of 2023 just 3840 Applications received and over 80% applicants were selected, he said.

The Central Haj Committee appreciated the action taken by the Telangana State Haj Committee, against the Khadim-ul-Hujjaj who failed to perform duties during Haj. Prof. Shukoor suggested online selection of Khadim-ul-Hujjaj and advised to include suggestions in the Haj Guide to avoid accidents and keep the pilgrims safe from calamities.