125,000 pilgrims to 'benefit' from Haj subsidy
Friday July 20, 2012 02:57:42 PM, ummid.com
& Agencies
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New Delhi: Some
125,000 Indian Muslims going for the annual Haj pilgrimage would
be covered by the government subsidy this year, it was announced
Friday.
This means Rs.4.75 billion of the travel costs will be
borne by the government.
The decision to have 125,000 pilgrims covered by the Haj subsidy
scheme was taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh here Thursday.
However, there is a dispute among
the Muslim community on who actually benefit from this huge
amount. While critics term it a case of Muslim appeasement,
independent analysts are of the view that the amount is actually
used to bail out Air India - the government carrier from losses.
The Haj subsidy scheme has come under severe criticism over the
years. The Supreme Court in May ordered that it be scrapped within
10 years.
Under the scheme, an Indian pilgrim pays a return airfare -
this year it is Rs.20,0000 - while other charges and taxes and the
balance cost of air travel arrangements are borne by the
government.
The two-way airfare as against
normal days when it is Rs. 16-18,000, during Haj season it is
increased to Rs. 26,000 to in some cases up to Rs. 35,000.
On an average, the government pays Rs.38,000 per pilgrim by
subsidising airfares.
The scheme was initiated in 1973 when India decided not to allow
Haj pilgrims to take sea routes and to compensate the difference
between fares.
Interestingly,
The programme to subsidise Muslims in the sacred journey has been
criticised even by a section of Muslim leaders.
Islam calls upon all Muslims to make a journey to Makkah, the seat
of holiest of Muslim mosques Kaaba, at least once in their lives.
The pilgrimage is to be offered only if affordable and indigent
Muslims have been excused from it.
The Supreme Court in its May 8 order asked the government to do
away with the scheme.
"If all the facts are made known, a good (number) of the pilgrims
would not be very comfortable in the knowledge that their Haj is
funded to a substantial extent by the government," the court order
said, observing that the "subsidy is something that is best done
away with".
The government has said that this year Haj flights would start Sep
17 and there would be 21 embarkation points in India for pilgrims
to depart.
This year there would be no direct flight from Patna due to
technical difficulties. Gaya has been introduced as a new
embarkation point instead.
The external affairs ministry is the nodal ministry for Haj
matters but air travel arrangements are done by the civil aviation
through the Haj Committee of India.
The airlines for the journey are chosen through a tendering
process.
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