Syed Khalique Ahmed | India Tomorrow
NEW DELHI—The dreaded coronavirus that has affected all aspects of life globally, is likely to increase the cost of Haj pilgrimage this year. It was the corona pandemic due to which the Haj-2020 was cancelled for international pilgrims and only a limited number of pilgrims from Saudi Arabia were allowed to perform Haj in 2020.
According to Haj Committee of India (HCoI) officials, the cost of Haj-2021 is likely to go up by at least one and a half times of that in 2019. The actual cost of Haj-2020 is not known as no one from outside Saudi Arabia was allowed to perform Haj in 2020 to prevent the spread of corona pandemic and all Haj-2020 advance bookings were cancelled.
The main reason for huge rise in cost of Haj pilgrimage is said to be the social distancing norms to be followed during air and bus travel as also during stay in hotels at Makkah, Madina and in tents at Mina.
Another reason for the rise in Haj cost is said to be increase in Muallim’s or guide fee which has been raised from SR1050 per pilgrim to SR2500, meaning Rs. 30,000 increase in one go. Similarly, the Saudi Government has increased the Value Added Tax (VAT) they charge from the pilgrims from 5 per cent earlier to 15 per cent this year.
The Saudi government is also charging visa fee at a rate of SR 300 per pilgrim from this year, thus further adding up to the Haj cost. Visa fee was not charged earlier.
HCoI’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr. Maqsood Ahmed Khan says the accommodation will also be costly due to Covid. According to him, the accommodation rent is expected to be enhanced by 2.25 times the original cost due to expected change in accommodation criteria from four square metres per Haji earlier to nine square metres per Haji now as per Covid guidelines issued by the Saudi government.
According to Khan, a hotel room that earlier accommodated five persons, cannot accommodate more than two persons now and hence, the accommodation cost would certainly go up and the cost would have to be borne by the pilgrims themselves.
As social distancing norms will have to be followed in air travel and road transport as well in Saudi Arabia, the chartered flights from India to Saudi Arabia and back used for flying pilgrims will be able to carry not more than half of the full seating capacity of the flights. Similarly, the buses that transport passengers from Saudi airports to Makkah and back to the airport during return journey will also be carrying only one third of their total seating capacity due to social distancing norms to be observed during the Haj pilgrimage. Saudi government has also strictly asked to avoid crowding in buses even during travel from Mina to Arafat on the 9th of Dhul Hijj. All these directives will also add up to the cost of the pilgrimage. Bus Transportation cost, therefore, is likely to go up by at least three times. The buses that earlier carried 45 passengers will carry only 15 passengers as per information provided to HCoI.
Expected Cost of Haj-2021
While the minimum actual cost of a Haj pilgrim in Azizia category in 2019 was Rs. 2.39 lakh, the estimated minimum cost this year is projected to be in the range of Rs. 3.70 lakh to Rs. 5.25 lakh this year as per HCoI website, depending on the boarding or embarkation point. And this cost is for Azizia category. There is no information regarding green category as most of the buildings and hotels in close proximity to the Haram Sharif have been demolished to make more space for prayers during Haj pilgrimage and Ramzan Umrah.
GST on Air Tickets
Asked about the GST being levied on flight tickets of Haj pilgrims, HCoI CEO said that chartered flights had been levying 18 per cent of GST. He said that GST was levied on many other things also with regard to Haj pilgrims as per government orders and it was not in the control of HCoI.
Quota for India
India was given a quota of 1.8 lakh pilgrims annually till 2019 depending on its Muslim population. However, it is not clear what will be the quota for India this year due to social distancing norms which are being strictly implemented by the Saudi authorities. HCoI CEO says, “We have not yet received any information so far regarding the number of pilgrims to be allowed from India”.
As HCoI is expecting huge reduction in Haj quota this year, it has reduced the number of embarkation points from 21 earlier to 10 only this year. The embarkation points this year are Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Kochi, Delhi, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai and Srinagar to cover the Haj pilgrims from all over India.
Filing of Income Tax Return
Many aspiring Hajis, particularly those who were not income tax payees, were under lot of tension when the news came that only those having filed their income tax return(ITR) will be allowed to apply for Haj. HCoI CEO Dr. Maqsood Ahmed Khan said that under the existing laws, production of ITR details was a must for all whose total foreign journey expenditure was more than Rs. 2 lakh. However, this was not applied to Haj pilgrims. “We have exempted the Haj pilgrims from it this year as well. We are not demanding ITR this year. The Ministry of Minority Affairs has taken up the matter with the Union Ministry of Finance to continue this exemption for Haj pilgrims”, Dr. Khan said.
Important points for Haj 2021:
* Only those in the age of 18 to 65 can perform Haj. Infant child below 18 years not allowed due to Covid restrictions.
*Every pilgrim will have to get himself/herself tested for corona. Only corona negative will be allowed to board the Haj flight.
*Pregnant women also not allowed to perform Haj this year due to Covid.
*Stay in Saudi Arabia during Haj will be for 30-35 days only.
*HCoI will provide standardized baggage to each pilgrim. HCoI will provide two bags of 20 kgs each and one cabin bag of 7 Kg per pilgrim. Pilgrims will have to carry only the standardized bags provided by HCoI only and no other baggage. The cost of these bags will be collected from the pilgrims along with the Haj amount.
*Persons with medical conditions such as terminal cancers, heart condition, co-morbidities, advanced cardiac, respiratory, liver, or kidney diseases, infectious tuberculosis disease, or senility are strictly not allowed due to the prevailing Covid-19 situation.
*Ladies not accompanied by Sharai Mehram, barring ladies without Mehram (LWM) above 45 years and below 65 years of age, who wish to go for Haj but do not have a Mehram (Male companion) and their school of thought (Maslak) permits, are allowed to travel in a group of three ladies. The group of such ladies should remain three at all stages of Haj journey.
