Haj 2025: Govt blames pvt tour operators for quota cut

Hyderabad: The decision of Saudi authorities to cut down the quota for Indians for Haj 2025 will affect only those prospective pilgrims intending to perform Haj through private tour operators. Those who had applied and selected for Haj through the official Haj Committee of India will, however, perform the pilgrimage, explains Syed Akbar. Haj, this year, falls between June 4 and 9 and one in every 18 pilgrims from around the world will be from India.
The quota controversy
Saudi Arabia allows a certain number of pilgrims from each country based on the percentage of the Muslim population there. It fixes the quota for official Haj committees and private tour operators. While the Haj Committee of India completed all the formalities, including booking accommodation, private tour operators failed to do so within the stipulated schedule. Thus, the quota allocated to private operators was cancelled for logistics reasons.
What is the quota for India?
India has the third largest Muslim population in the world, after Indonesia and Pakistan. Thus, it also sends the third largest contingent of Haj pilgrims every year. The total quota allocated to India is 1,75,025 for Haj 2025. Of this, while the Haj Committee got a share of 1,22,518, private operators got a quota of 52,507.
How much quota did India lose this year?
As many as 42,507 prospective pilgrims from India will not be able to perform Haj this year. Though Saudi scrapped the entire quota of 52,507 pilgrims earmarked for private operators, it later announced that it would permit 10,000 pilgrims through private travels.
How many tour operators send Haj pilgrims?
India has about 800 recognised private tour operators on the Haj list. For convenience, the govt of India clubbed them into 26 groups, each named combined Haj group operators (CHGOs). The govt blamed them for the loss of quota this year.
Why do Saudi authorities fix quota for each country?
Saudi Arabia regularly revises the quota based on the facilities it can provide to the pilgrims. Since accommodation is limited, particularly in Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah, the three important stations during Haj, authorities restrict the number of pilgrims. Since the accommodation has already been booked, authorities slashed India's quota as operators failed to comply with the regulations within the stipulated period.
How many pilgrims perform Haj?
A little over two million foreign pilgrims perform Haj. Within India, each state has its own quota based on the local Muslim population. The quota for Telangana is about 7,000 this year, while the neighbouring Andhra Pradesh's quota is 1,630.
Embarkation points in Telugu states?
For Haj 2025, Hyderabad is the only embarkation point in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Vijayawada embarkation point was withdrawn this year as the majority of pilgrims from Andhra had opted for Hyderabad. Haj fares from Vijayawada are higher than those from Hyderabad.
How are pilgrims selected?
Since the number of applicants is higher than the allocated quota, prospective pilgrims are selected through a draw of lots. Haj is one of the five pillars of Islam and it is obligatory at least once in a lifetime for those Muslims who are wealthy and healthy enough to make the journey.