The Minister for Minority Affairs Smriti Irani at an event to inaugurate an orientation-cum-training program for Haj deputations, in New Delhi on May 13, 2023. Photo: Twitter/@smritiirani
Minority Affairs Minister Smriti Irani on Saturday inaugurated the training of administrative and medical team of deputationists selected to serve Hajis in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) for Haj 2023. A 468-member team has been selected to facilitate the training. Movement of 1.75 lakh pilgrims. The Minister said that the highest ever 4,314 women who will travel without a male guardian (mehram) will also be in the contingent.
The ministry has deputed 468 people, including 339 medical professionals (173 doctors and 166 paramedics), 29 Group A officers and 129 personnel for administrative duties, for Haj pilgrimage this year.
This year the ministry claimed to have facilitated women empowerment by allowing single women to apply under the category of women without mahram and received the highest number of applications among all categories.
Giving details about its achievements in organizing Haj this year, the ministry shared in a release that the government has taken steps to cut costs in the pilgrimage package by removing the unnecessary cost incurred on account of compulsory purchase of buckets, chadars, suitcases etc. Special attention has been paid to the measures. ,
The ministry claimed that it has given freedom to pilgrims to carry any amount of Saudi currency with them and has done away with the mandatory provision of providing Saudi currency (about ₹2,100) to each Haj pilgrim.
“For the first time, direct supply of foreign currency and foreign currency cards to willing pilgrims through SBI. The ministry has also ensured construction of maximum number of embarkation points ever for the convenience of the pilgrims.
This year, there is direct involvement of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and its agencies for medical examination of pilgrims in India, their vaccination and hospitals/dispensaries in KSA during Haj.