Hajj opportunity for more people

MALAPPURAM: The central government's move to increase the quota for state Hajj committees by 10 percent and stop the VIP quota will enable more pilgrims from Kerala to perform Hajj. Instead of allocating 70 percent of seats to Hajj committees and 30 percent to private Hajj groups, this time the ratio will be 80:20.

500 seats will be given entirely to the states by doing away with the special quota for the President, Vice President, Prime Minister, Minorities Ministry, etc. The State Hajj Committee has estimated that the number of Hajj applicants from Kerala will increase this time since the Covid threat has parted.

India has got 1,75,025 seats in the Hajj quota announced by the Saudi Hajj Ministry. Last year there were only 79,237 seats due to covid restrictions. While 56,061 seats were allotted to state Hajj committees, Kerala's quota was limited to 5,766. This time there may be an increase of seats for Kerala.

The Central Hajj Committee will soon announce the guidelines and action plan for Hajj application. Only after this will the application process start. Although the Hajj quota is allocated to the respective states in proportion to their Muslim population, the number of applicants is also considered at the last minute. Generally, Kerala comes first in the number of applicants.

Kochi, Kozhikode, and Kannur are centers of departure

Kochi, Kozhikode, and Kannur airports have been selected as departure (embarkation) centers for Hajj from Kerala and this will be helpful for the pilgrims. This is the first time that a Hajj departure center has been started at Kannur. After 2019, the Kozhikode departure center has been re-established. According to the revised Hajj policy, a person can go via Hajj Committee only once now. People over 70 years of age and differently-abled persons have priority for Hajj. The Hajj application fee of Rs 300 is to be paid only at the time of selection instead of the first purchase method. The method of Hajj Committee buying bags and clothes for the pilgrims have been stopped. Pilgrims are advised to buy it themselves instead.