Chairperson, Haj Committee of Ladakh meets Principal Secretary Revenue Ladakh to discuss Haj

LEH, May 13: The Chairperson, Haj Committee UT of Ladakh, Sh. Mohammad Ali Majaz met with the Principal Secretary Revenue UT Ladakh, Dr. Pawan Kotwal IAS on 11.05.2023 in the UT Secretariat to discuss the Haj related issues in the Union Territory of Ladakh.

The Chairperson briefed about the issues undertaken by the Haj Committee of UT Ladakh with the active support of the Administration of UT Ladakh to facilitate the Haj Pilgrims of UT Ladakh.

It was informed that around 452 pilgrims (297 from Kargil and 155 from Leh) have submitted their passports and other requisite documents for proceeding to Jeddah-Saudi Arabia for Haj-2023. Though, the provisional selection of Haj pilgrims was made through draw of lots at the Ministry, New Delhi, but all the Haj Pilgrims of UT Ladakh have been selected this year.

The e-Visa will be dispatched to respective embarkation point (447 to Srinagar and 5 to New Delhi) and the flight schedule will be issued soon. It is expected that the first flight will depart from 21^st May 2023.

It also came into light that the Haj Committee of UT Ladakh approached the Haj Committee of India and requested for enhancement of Haj quota for UT Ladakh. Accordingly, the Ministry of Minority Affairs, GoI has enhanced the quota from 206 (2022) to 479 which is a great achievement.

Further, on the intervention of the Administration of Ladakh and Haj Committee of Ladakh, the Ministry of External Affairs, GoI, New Delhi and Passport Authorities organized Passport Camp at district Kargil, wherein more than 500 passport applicants registered and the Regional Passport Office Srinagar issued passports to the intending pilgrims on priority basis.

It was informed that Haj Committee of India has invited application for Khadim-Ul-Hujaj for Haj 2023 from Government employees with prerequisite qualification and conditions. Six applications were received, 5 from Kargil and 1 from Leh District. Subsequently, their application forms were scrutinized and all eligible applicants were called for interview by the haj Committee of Ladakh. A merit list along with selection list and waiting list was issued and submitted to Haj Committee of India for approval. After proper scrutiny the approval for two Khadim-ul-Hujaj has been communicated by the Ministry.

The Orientation/ Training programmes for the Haj Pilgrims are in progress and the training for the Haj pilgrims of Leh district has already been completed including for Hajis of Turtuk, Nubra Valley (numbering 53 pilgrims) for whom the training was organized at HSS, Turtuk on 9^th April, 2023.

The Orientation/ Training programme for the Haj pilgrims of District Kargil is scheduled to be commenced on 15^th April 2023 at Auditorium Hall Bazar, Kargil. The Chairperson, accordingly requested the Principal Secretary, Revenue Ladakh to attend the said programme at Kargil.

Besides, the vaccination and issuance of Health Card to Haj Pilgrims is also going on in close coordination with Director Health Services, Ladakh/ Mission Director, NHM Ladakh.

The Principal Secretary Revenue appreciated the role of the Haj Committee of UT Ladakh and assured the Chairperson that the Administration of the UT of Ladakh will extend all kind of support to facilitate the Haj pilgrims of UT Ladakh.