Saudi Gazette report

JEDDAH — Indian Consul General Md. Noor Rahman Sheikh lauded the Saudi Haj authorities for putting in place a series of measures that have enabled Indian pilgrims to arrive for Haj in a smooth manner and revealed that Minister of State for External Affairs M. J. Akbar will be heading the Haj goodwill delegation this year. He is expected to arrive on Aug. 28.

While addressing the press Tuesday at the consulate premises here along with Deputy Consul General and Consul Haj Mohammed Shahid Alam, the consul general said that it was the combination of their endeavor to constantly improve services for the pilgrims and the Saudi authorities’ seamless move toward the electronic systems that has shown this marked improvements.

“We have a very transparent, people-friendly system all these years, and the addition of the use of technology has nevertheless enabled us to have a very good system in place,” Sheikh said, stressing that the ease and smooth flow of pilgrims was there for all to see.

“One good aspect that I found this year was that the Saudi authorities have put in certain systems and process in place through which several tangible improvements are visible,” Sheikh said, adding, “The Indian Haj mission had worked very closely with the Saudi Haj Ministry to ensure that the Indian Haj visas are issued through the E-path system. This E-Haj visa system has considerably eased the movement of Hajis and clearance at the airports in Jeddah and Madinah.”

“For example, because of the e-path, it has helped our Hajis as they are cleared through immigration quickly. Of course the old system of stickers and other manual efforts have been replaced by the e-systems here too whereby the immigration, customs, baggage collection, boarding of buses, receiving them at the reception center, and their housing all are linked to the e- system and this has made life easier all round...

“It has cut down the time taken for a Haji to just about two hours to be cleared, a remarkable improvement. The Haj minister in his discussion with us had shared the new improvements put in place, and also from our repeated meetings with the Haj minister and the authorities, we see that they are implementing new ideas and improvements for a more streamlined Haj in the future,” Sheikh said.

When asked whether India is being considered or will be an early country to enter into this new system of pilgrims’ immigration being done in their home country, with the Saudis testing the system in a pilot project in Malaysia, where the pilgrims get their immigration done by Saudi staff there and when the pilgrims arrive they are fast-tracked in Jeddah with just a recheck done to confirm it is the same person, Sheikh said, “That system is in existence and is now being tested is a great thing.”

“Of course immigration being done at the home country is the only thing not done now for the Indian pilgrims. Of course electronic visa is already there, and the pilgrims have to just go to the immigration counter here to get cleared. The improvement I saw is that there are increased number of counters, and also the person manning the counter is aware of the rules and the need for quick clearance.

“Of course Malaysia is good country to start the test because of the numbers. We in India send over 170,000 pilgrims, and it is already streamlined with all details in the e-visas. But I think we can work closely with all the stakeholders, even back home, in the existing process to make it work when it is India’s turn,” he added.

This year over 170,000 pilgrims are expected from India, out of which 1,25,000 are expected to come from the Haj Committee of India and 45,000 from private tour operators. He said, “So far 78,000 pilgrims arrivals have been recorded in the Kingdom and 59,000 of them arrived in Madinah till Aug. 8. In fact most of them have arrived in Makkah, the last group of pilgrims from Madinah will arrive on Aug. 16 morning.”

Out of 1,25,000 Indian pilgrims coming through Haj Committee of India, 13,500 have been provided accommodation in Markazia (upto 1000 m from the outermost periphery of Haram Sharif) and the remaining are in Aziziah.

Each pilgrim has been provided a complimentary SIM card, which can be activated after his arrival in the Kingdom.

The mobile app developed by the Indian Haj Mission — “Indian Haji Information System”, has been further improved to provide user-friendly experience and several services to the Hajis including information of their accommodation in Makkah and Madinah, their mobile numbers and registration of any of their concern/grievances for its resolution.

To cater to health requirements of the Indian Hajis, in cooperation with Saudi authorities, 13 branch dispensaries and 3 hospitals are functioning round-the-clock. In addition, 16 ambulances are in use. Mobile team of doctors and paramedics regularly visit the Hajis’ accommodation and render medical assistance.

When asked the number of deaths among the pilgrims, the consul general said that, “So far we have 26 reported deaths, two of them due to road accidents.”

While answering a question on the number of aged pilgrims, Sheikh said, “We have about 13,000 aged Hajis.” When pointed out that last year too there were about 13,000 aged Hajis, the consul general said, “this year the figure is from the 170,000 plus pilgrims compared to the 135,000 pilgrims last year.”

He also revealed that three centurions are among the aged pilgrims with the trio coming from the northern state of Uttar Pradesh — they are 103-year-old Asgari, 102-year-old Namdar and 101-year-old Rabeeya Bi.

Sheikh was all praise for the volunteers, who have turned up in large numbers to serve the pilgrims. “We have 3,000 volunteers already registered, and the numbers are increasing.”

“We have also all support staff and system in place in Makkah and they are working round-the -clock serving the pilgrims. This year I am very happy to say that the support given to us by volunteers is tremendous. In fact, this year there has been an increased number of volunteers and their numbers are growing.

“The number of volunteers are growing incredibly on a daily basis. They are helping out in Jeddah, airports, Madinah and Makkah and this has helped in making the pilgrims’ life easier,” he added.

“Of course their support in the Mashaer train areas, were they will be manning points in Mina to assist Indian pilgrims, will be invaluable, he added. “About 65,000 Hajis will use the Mashaer train while the rest would be using buses.”

Round-the-clock bus transportation between Aziziah and Haram Sharif has been arranged with new model buses for a smooth and comfortable movement. Similarly, new model coach buses are being used for the movement of Hajis between Madinah and Makkah, he said.

“Last year was the turning point in providing top class transport service. This year we are using the services of two companies, one of them had provided transport last year and another new company — both are using the latest model buses in order to provide a smooth ride to the Hajis,” Sheikh said

With regards to food in Madinah, the consul general categorically said, “In Madinah there is no food served. There’s no cooking or catering facility. But we had made this very clear at the outset to all pilgrims. But there is improvement in Mina, where every Haji is getting breakfast and two meals, compared to last year when they got breakfast and one meal.

“In addition, in Arafat there will be fireproof tents and coolers also because of the heat this time and arrangements are already in place,” Sheikh said.