Centre Forms Six-Member Committee to Look into Haj Subsidy Issue

Centre Forms Six-Member Committee to Look into Haj Subsidy Issue

A six-member committee has been formed by the government to look into the matter of how to improve the Haj Poilcy of India and also deal with the issue of reducing and abolishing(खत्म)  the subsidy to the pilgrims. Former Consulate General of India (CGI), Jeddah, Afzal Amanullah will be the

head of the committee. Besides, Ministry Joint Secretary J Alam will serve as member secretary. Other in the committee includes, Bombay High Court judge (retd) SS Parkar, ex-Haj Committee of India chairman Qaiser Shamim, former Air India CMD Michael Mascarenhas , Muslim scholar-chartered accountant Kamal Faruqui. In 2012, the Supreme Court had the Union government to gradually reduce and abolish Haj subsidy by 2022.  The apex court directed the government to invest the subsidy amount of approximately (लगभग) Rs 650 crore a year on educational and social development of the community.  The committee will review(समीक्षा)the effectiveness(प्रभावशीलता) of the management of pilgrims(तीर्थयात्रियों) ’ accommodation and air travel by the Haj Committee of India. Besides, the committee will figure out whether the pilgrims can travel to Saudi Arabia paying less in the absence of the subsidy.