NEW DELHI, NOVEMBER 24, 2024: Union Minister for Minority Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju inaugurated the Conference of Chairpersons of State and UT Haj Committees in the esteemed presence of George Kurian, Minister of State for Minority Affairs; Abdullahkutti, Chairman of the Haj Committee of India; Aseem R. Mahajan, Joint Secretary (Gulf), Ministry of External Affairs; CPS Bakshi, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Minority Affairs; along with Chairpersons and Executive Officers of State and UT Haj Committees on Saturday evening.
In his address, Mr Kiren Rijiju noted that the Haj pilgrimage is the largest logistical operation undertaken annually by the Government of India beyond its borders. He emphasized that Haj has long been a cornerstone of the strong bilateral relationship between India and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Mr Rijiju highlighted several significant reforms aimed at improving the pilgrimage experience, including the removal of the discretionary quota, the integration of technology through the Haj Suvidha App, and the provision of facilities for female pilgrims without Mehram.
Mr George Kurian spoke about the new measures being implemented for Haj 2025, designed to enhance the comfort and convenience of the Indian pilgrims. Among the key initiatives, he mentioned the procurement of modern buildings with lifts not only in Aziziya but also in nearby areas close to the Haram. Additionally, the latest model buses will be introduced for travel between Makkah, Madinah, and within the Mashaer region. A robust medical support system is being established, and the ratio of Khadim-ul-Hujjaj has been improved from 1 Khadim per 200 pilgrims to 1 Khadim per 150 pilgrims, ensuring more personalized attention, quicker issue resolution, and enhanced support from State Haj Inspectors.
The conference, organized by the Haj Committee of India under the Ministry of Minority Affairs, also marked the launch of the Haj Suvidha App 2.0 by Kiren Rijiju. Building on the success of the Haj Suvidha App 1.0 in 2024, the new version introduces key features such as the selection process, boarding pass and air travel details, a navigation system with Mina maps, and medical history and health advisories for Indian pilgrims.
The conference included discussions on stakeholder feedback, suggestions and the preparations. The deliberations were chaired by Shri George Kurian, Minister of State for Minority Affairs in the presence of Dr. Chandra Shekhar Kumar, Secretary, Ministry of Minority Affairs and other dignitaries. The suggestions and feedback of the stakeholders would be utilised for ensuring a smooth and successful Haj pilgrimage in 2025.
