Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Haj Committee of India, Mohd Yakoob Shekha, (IRAS) chaired a virtual meeting on important matters of Haj 2023 on January 12.

Chairperson, Haj Committee, UT Ladakh, Mohd Ali Majaz, thanked the CEO, Haj Committee of India for providing the Haj Committee, Ladakh an opportunity to discuss some important issues directly with Haj Committee of India. 

The important issues discussed in the meeting include the Training of Haj Committee members and Officials of Ladakh about the Haj Process; Funding pattern for construction of Haj House in Ladakh; Haj quota for Ladakh; Proper facilities for Haj Pilgrims at respective embankment points; TA/DA of Haj Committee, Ladakh’s Chairperson, Members, and officials.

CEO, Haj Committee of India briefed all the aspects point-wise viz. the Haj Committee, Ladakh shall take up the issue with the Administration of UT Ladakh and depute the members and officials of the Haj Committee, Ladakh for training to Haj Committee of India. He assured that the trainees/deputes shall be skilled and briefed about the overall haj process and the duties and responsibilities of Haj Committee of the respective State/UT; for construction of Haj House in any State/UT, the matter has to be taken up with the Haj Committee of India through State/UT Administration and Haj Committee shall bear 25% of the construction cost; the committee has been informed that the Haj quota is been decided proportionate to the population of the State/UT as per the census data of 2011 and this year the quota for Haj Pilgrims of India has been kept up to 1.75 Lakh; CEO, Haj Committee of India assured the committee that all the proper and good facilities shall be made available at the respective embankment points and the State/UT Haj Committee along with Haj Committee of India will take care of/supervise all the arrangements; the TA/DA and other expenses of State/UT Haj Committee including officials has to be borne by the State/UT Administration.

Mohd Yakoob Shekha (IRAS), Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Haj Committee of India in his concluding remarks assured the Haj Committee, UT Ladakh for providing all possible help/assistance keeping in view the remoteness of the area/that the Haj Committee UT Ladakh has been formulated recently after bifurcation of J&K State and has promised for every guidance and support.
Chairperson, Haj Committee, UT Ladakh thanked the chair for the positive response and assured that the committee with the support of the Haj Committee of India shall do its best in facilitating the Haj Pilgrims of UT Ladakh.

He discussed other issues with the members and it has been decided that the committee will take up the matter immediately with the Administration of UT Ladakh for the establishment of Head Office for the Haj Committee at Kargil and Sub Office at Leh within weeks’ time along with a clerical staff/Vehicle with driver for Chairperson and Executive Officer.

Further, it has been decided in the meeting that the Administration of UT Ladakh will take up the matter with the Administration of UT J&K,  that till proper infrastructure is made available in UT Ladakh, the services of Haj committee, UT Jammu and Kashmir may be utilized by creating a Ladakh Haj Cell by deputing Haj Committee Officials to Haj House Srinagar for real-time assistance, technical support and to gain the experience for future Haj Process, keeping in view the nearest embankment point (Srinagar) for Haj Pilgrims of UT Ladakh and the availability of overall facilities and dedicated infrastructure there.

Haj Committee members/officials of UT Ladakh, Mohd Ali Majaz, Chairperson, Haj Committee, UT Ladakh;  Mirza Hussain, Hon’ble Councillor (Chuchot constituency)/Member Haj Committee; Mohd Ali Chandan, Hon’ble Councillor (Shargole constituency)/ Member Haj Committee (Through V.C link);  Mohd Ali Majaz, Kargil/ Member Haj Committee (Through V.C link); Zaheer Hussain Babar, Ward Member, Municipal Committee, Kargil/Member Haj Committee (Through V.C link); Mr. Musharraf Hussain Haf (JKAS), Executive Officer, Haj Committee of UT Ladakh; Mr. Syed Towqeer Ahmad, Statistical Officer with executive Officer Haj Committee, UT Ladakh attended the meeting.