State Haj Committee Selects 4,346 Haj Pilgrims

The State Haj Committee, on Thursday, selected as many as 4,346 intending Haj pilgrims from the state, for Haj 2012.

The selection was done through Qurrah, a computerised draw of lots, at the Haj House at Nampally. The entire process of Qurrah lasted for nearly 2 hours.

Of 15,328 applicants, the intending pilgrims were selected based on the percentage of the Muslim population in each district.

It may be mentioned here that a total of 1,418 pilgrims have already been declared selected under the reserved categories.

While Hyderabad got the maximum quota of 981 pilgrims, Srikakulam got the least quota, of 5 pilgrims.

Nellore district had a surplus quota of 23 pilgrims. As against the allotted quota of 154 seats, only 131 applications were received from the district.

Similarly, only 44 applications were received from West Godavari district, as against the allotted quota of 49 pilgrims.

The surplus quota of 28 was later distributed among other districts.

While pilgrims from Anantapur will leave for the pilgrimage from Bengaluru, the Gulbarga and Bidar pilgrims would go to Mecca via Hyderabad.

Speaking on the occasion, SHC Executive Officer MA Hameed said that all the selected pilgrims would be sent a reference number in the next few days. A health card will also be issued to all the selected pilgrims.

He said it would be compulsory for the pilgrims to attend the training camps to be organised across the state.

The selected pilgrims will have to deposit the first installment of Rs. 51,000, along with their original international passport, by 11 June. The Haj Committee will announce the date for the payment of other installments later.

The Executive Officer informed that accommodation under the Azizia category would cost around Rs. 1.20 lakh, and that under Green Category would cost around Rs. 1.30 lakh. However, the final prices would be decided during the Haj Conference to be held in New Delhi on 22 May.

The selection of Khadim-ul-Hujjaj (servants of pilgrims) will be done on 19 May. The state Haj Committee has received a total of 131 applications for these. Of them, 30 have already been rejected, for technical reasons. On 19 May, 20 applicants will be selected as Khadim-ul-Hujjaj.

Urdu Academy director and member of Building Selection Committee Prof. S A Shukoor assured that proper buildings would be selected for the state's pilgrims. The committee visit the holy city of Mecca from 4 to 21 June to select buildings for Indian pilgrims. (INN)