RESERVATION

HAJ

Government Statement on Subsidy for Pilgrimages Subsidy given to Haj pilgrims was:

1992                            14.43 crores

1993                            25.59 crores

1994                            24.43 crores

1995                            17.05 crores

No subsidy is given to pilgrims belonging to other religions for their visit to various shrines in foreign countries. 

However, Government provides facilities to Kailash- Mansarovar pilgrims which include medical assistance, wireless cover, communication links with China, issuance of foreign exchange and serial evacuation of pilgrims in case of emergency. Cost towards publication of advertisement, establish of communication links and serial evacuation are borne by Government. Financial assistance is provided to Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam, which is responsible for logistics on Indian side.

Ministry of External Affairs coordinates the visit of Sikh pilgrims to Holy Gurdwaras in Pakistan on four occasions in a year and Hindu pilgrims to Shadani Darbar at Hyat Pitaffi in Sindh once a year and to Shree Katasraj twice a year.

(Source: LSUQ No. 1287 dated 4 December, 1995 by A.P. Singh)

Malaysia: Haj Management System

 "Tabung Haji", a semi-Government organization whose members are appointed by the Prime Minister's Office in consultation with the Islamic Community Centre makes arrangements for the Haj. Members are appointed from professors, academicians, doctors, religious elders, etc.

The financing of the body's operation is generated through its own funds collected from pilgrims which is further subsidized by Government. 

Enrollment for Haj is announced normally in December/January every year for Muslims of Malay nationality. The amount charged is RM 5000,00 per head (approx. Rs. 60,000) which has not changed during the last five years. Expenditure over and above this, if any, is met by Tabung Haji.

Pilgrims are allowed to deposit the amount in small sums every month in their account with Tabung Haji from their meagre savings. It is open to civil servants to finance this through regular deductions from their salaries.

Some private companies are also allotted quotas by Tabung Haji they can charge an amount not exceeding PM 8000.00 per head (approx. Rs. 96,000). Pilgrims are Selected on first-come-first-served basis.Pilgrims undergo a preparatory course for the Haj.

Visas are arranged by Tabung Haji for all pilgrims whether registered with them or the private companies.

Tabung Haji appoints public relations officers, doctors, religious advisers and other logistical staff to accompany the groups where they are assisted by the Malaysian Consular staff in Mecca. Malaysian Foreign Office sets up a temporary Consulate Office in Tabung Haji hostel in Mecca every year which interacts with the Tabung Haji Public Relations Officer.

All pilgrims travel by air to Saudi Arabia. There are sailings from Malaysian ports for the Haj.

Tabung Haji owns a very large hostel in Mecca consisting of four to five t locks. Accommodation required in excess of hostel facility, is arranged through the local Saudi authorities.

There is no practice of sending an Haj Goodwill Delegation from Malaysia to Mecca with the pilgrims.

Shahabuddin on Reservation for Muslims

Letter to Welfare Minister, 27 Dec., 1995

Pressure is being built up to carve a Backward Muslim quota out of the OBC quota of 27%.

Assuming the same social demographic pattern among the Muslims as among the Hindus, out of 12% that the Muslim community forms of the national population, 8% may well belong to the sub-communities which correspond to SC or OBC's. Their quota would be 5%, giving full weightage to the SC-component (2%) and 50% weightage to the OBC-component (3%).

I feel that the Muslim community is not going to benefit much either by being bracketted with the SC or with the OBC, who are educationally and economically much more advanced and politically far more influential, any more than being being bracketted with the High Castes in the General List.

In my view, the entire Muslim community in the country forms a Backward Class. Moreover, I do not think you would like your Government and Party be accused of dividing the Muslim community.

I, therefore, propose that the Muslim community, as a community, be deemed as a Backward Class but the individual beneficiaries coming from the poor families or from the sub-communities declared as a Backward Class in any State should be given priority against the Muslim quota, subject only to the minimum qualification, as prescribed and only the remaining vacancies be made available to other Muslim candidates in order of merit, other than those who have qualified for the General List.

The Muslim quota should be 9%, assuming that their notional index of backwardness is found to 75, with SC/ ST-100 as the base.