Srinagar, Jan 18 (UNI) Not a single woman in Jammu and Kashmir, the only Muslim majority state in the country, has applied for the Hajj-2018 pilgrimage without maharam after the Centre announced that a group of four women above the age of 45 years can go for Hajj without maharam.
Meanwhile, Haj pilgrims from the state have been given a choice of another embarkation point “ Delhi” besides Srinagar with difference of Rs 36,000 in the air-fare.
Officials said that 32,332 Haj applications have been received for 9,773 seats for which “ Draw of Lots (Qurrah) would be held tomorrow.
'We have not received any application from any woman for undertaking the Hajj pilgrimage without maharam', they told UNI. However, large number of women had applied for undertaking the pilgrimage with their maharam, they added.
The Executive Officer of the State Hajj Committee (SHC) said this time the Central Hajj Committee (CHC) has allotted one more embarkation point for every state. 'We have been allotted Delhi is second embarkation point,' he said, adding that now Hajj pilgrims from J&K can travel from Delhi for pilgrimage. Pilgrims travelling from Srinagar International Airport will have to pay Rs 1,09,000 while those who opted to travel from Delhi have to pay Rs 73,000.
However, he made it clear that those who will opt to travel for the pilgrimage from Delhi will have to reach embarkation point there on their own. Similarly, on their return from pilgrimage they will have to make their own arrangement from Delhi to their respective places.
He said that Haj Committee has received 32,332 Haj applications, where 30,373 were received in general category, and 1,959 were in reserved category A (70 years plus applicants). There was another category this year that was woman without maharam, he said, adding that no such application was received under this category.
The Officer said that on basis of percentage of the Muslim population of the State, 6,163 Haj seats have been allocated. In addition, 3,610 seats have been allotted as special quota and from under the Quota States making an aggregate of 9,773 seats.
He said that 1,959 seats have to be reserved for pilgrims registered under reserve category A. As per Haj guidelines, the remaining 7814 Haj seats are to be distributed among all district of the State according to the percentage of Muslim population.
The officer said that J&K State Haj Committee informed that “Draw of Lots (Qurrah)” for all intending Haj pilgrims has been fixed by Haj Committee of India on tomorrow, Friday at 1200 hrs afterwards. He said that the draw of lots which will be held on Haj Committee of India server located at Haj House Mumbai would be displayed on a real-time basis. The applicants can confirm their status on the website of Haj Committee of India www.hajcommittee.com and www.jkshc.com later in the evening on the same day. The list of selected applicants shall be published in the local newspapers, the next day and shall also be displayed on the notice board in the office of State Haj Committee, immediately after ‘qurrah’ in completed.
UNI BAS SB 1040