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Centre hikes Haj pilgrimage quota to 1.23 lakh New Delhi:
The Union Government on Thursday increased the annual quota for Haj pilgrimage
to 1.23 lakh. However, there will be no corresponding increase in the amount spent
as Haj subsidy. "Till now, 110,000 pilgrims were able to perform the Haj on government
subsidy. This year, the number has been raised to 123,211," Information and Broadcasting
Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi told reporters. "The airfare for these pilgrims
has been pegged at last year's level of Rs 12,000," the Minister added. From this
year, Indore will become the 17th embarkation point for pilgrims undertaking the
Haj. "This will facilitate pilgrims from Madhya Pradesh," Dasmunsi said. The government
also provides subsidy for the pilgrims on the airfare to Saudi Arabia. There have
always been more applicants from states like Kerala and Maharashtra. The committee
would adjust these applicants against those states that have smaller Muslim populations.
For instance, a total of 9,401 Muslims from Kerala had applied to the committee
this year. The quota for the state last year was 7,563 and pilgrims from Kerala
were adjusted against vacant slots from other states like Bihar. |
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