CHENNAI: The annual Haj pilgrimage is expected to begin in October and the Tamil Nadu Haj committee is hoping the Centre will increase the quota for the state owing to a large number of applicants. Chief minister J Jayalalithaa had last week urged the Prime Minister to increase the quota.
The Tamil Nadu State Haj Committee has received 13,159 applications for the pilgrimage, but the Mumbai-based Haj Committee of India has allotted only 2,672 seats to the state. Of these, 180 seats have been given to the reserved category pilgrims and 1,492 pilgrims were selected under the general category. Subsequently, another 100 seats were allotted by the Haj Committee, leaving a large number of disappointed applicants. Pilgrims from the state are expected to begin flying out from September 15, with Chennai, Kancheepuram and Thiruvallur likely to account for more than 600 pilgrims.
Tamil Nadu Haj committee officials said pilgrims would be provided free meals thrice a day during the eight-day stay in Saudi Arabia. The government of that country has issued a travel advisory for pilgrims regarding the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and the Tamil Nadu Haj committee is in talks with the department of health about vaccinating pilgrims before the journey.
Every year, on an average, about 1,70,000 Indians visit Saudi Arabia for Haj.
Ref: Times of India - August 14, 2014 - http://goo.gl/xvJo3p
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