WE THE PEOPLE
With making permanent passports mandatory for Haj-2009, Passport office stands flooded with applications
But issuance of provisional application farms by SHC followed by draw of lots can lessen hardships to Aazmeen
By: Shirjeel Masoodi
Srinagar: The Saudi government has made permanent passports mandatory for all Aazmeen, intending to perform Haj this year. The J&K government was expecting that Saudi government would not put such a bar on Indian pilgrims at least this year, but it has not happened hitherto and as such the Passport Office has started coming under tremendous pressure. Moreover, issuance of permanent passports are likely to consume more time and would make it difficult for intending pilgrims from rural areas to undertake the pilgrimage for at least two to three years, as such people don’t possess documents needed for getting a permanent passport.
But it is learnt that the State Haj Committee (SHC) is going to issue provisional forms for Haj—2009 from March 5 and after collection process there would be draw of lots. After the draw of lots, the selected Aazmeen are required to submit forms with the Passport office and the government would expedite process of getting passports for the selected pilgrims. This way the number of applications would get reduced at the initial level as, otherwise, it would open a floodgate and bring the concerned office under great pressure.
It is worth mentioning that construction of Haj House at Bemina has minimized difficulties, which used to be encountered by the Aazmeen earlier. Besides all requisite formalities are completed at Haj House and no pilgrim is allowed to proceed to Airport directly and no attendant permitted inside the Haj House. The pilgrims possessing valid Haj documents are allowed to enter the Haj House besides Aazmeen are taken to Airport in chartered buses. All necessary assistance for handling the baggage of Aazmeen is expected to be provided by Home-guard volunteers. Male pilgrims are asked to put on Ehram at the Airport and necessary facilities of customs, immigration clearance and distribution of foreign exchange are available in the Haj House. Even additional foreign exchange, if required, is expected to be available at the Airport. This shows that the Government has been extra careful in providing necessary facilities to the Aazmeen on the basis of past experience. But such facilities shall not be available to those travelling through Private Travel Agencies, leaving them at the mercy of Allah. However, people having gone through this mill, urge the Government to exercise vigil over Private Agencies so that the Aazmeen are not subjected to unnecessary inconvenience and saved from getting duped and fleeced.
Pertinent to mention that Haj is a crowing movement of faith and hence a duty for all able-bodied and financially sound Muslims to perform Haj at least once in life time. It is the occasion when Muslims drawn from different parts of the globe are seen dressed in seamless white robes symbolizing equality of mankind, circling Holy Ka’aba and then undergoing different rituals to cleans themselves of sin. Millions of Muslims come down from different countries including India, chanting and raising their hands to Heaven, march through a desert Valley outside Mecca on the day of annual Haj pilgrimage every year. The Holy City of Mecca is not a place for raising political slogans as Allah has ordered them to be united and stand united in all situations.
It is also worth mentioning that the Saudi Government deploys police and other security personnel in large numbers every year to help smooth traffic around ritual sites, which generally remain plagued with deadly stampedes. Necessary to mention that more than 360 people got killed during Haj-2005 in stampede at Mina during a ritual symbolizing the stoning of the Satan, when some pilgrims stumbled over luggage. The Saudi Government has reportedly spent more than one billion dollars over the past years on a project to renovate the stoning site, where huge crowds file past three stone walls, symbolizing the devil to pelt them with stones. New entrances and exits have been added around the walls to ease the flow of people. It is learnt that many tall structures around Holy Kaba have been pulled down to create more space for pilgrims.
However, even with all such elaborate arrangements, Haj pilgrims continue to face hardships beyond description. It is here where the pilgrims need proper guidance by the governmental and non-government agencies. It is reported that the private travel agencies do not bother much on this issue which is highly critical area for the pilgrims. The pilgrims also face language problem and for that they need good interpreters. Furthermore, pilgrims are allegedly huddled together in small rooms and no State official comes forth to help and guide them.
Hence, it becomes necessary for the government to adopt all such measures, which shall provide maximum comfort to the Aazmeen and minimize irritants. The past ordeals faced by the Hajis should not come into play this year. Once the government adopts corrective measures and puts officials, accompanying the Aazmeen, on high alert, the quantum of complaints shall get reduced. Whether this will be done, only time will tell!
More 
