State Hajj Committee launches initiative to get passports for Hajj pilgrims

State Hajj Committee launches initiative to get passports for Hajj pilgrims

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Feb 14, 2012: Since the Hajj Committee of India (HCI) has made it mandatory for aspiring Hajj pilgrims to hold a passport, the DK District Hajj Executive Committee (DKDHEC), under the guidance of the Karnataka State Hajj Committee (KSHC) has organized a passport mela at Yenepoya Trust office, Karnad Sadashiva Rao Memorial Building, Idgah, Light House Hill Road, Mangalore.

The purpose of the passport mela is to prevent last-minute confusion among Hajj pilgrims. The event is meant for aspiring Hajj pilgrims from Udupi, DK, Uttara Kannada, and Kodagu districts. It will conclude on Feb 18.

 

Yenepoya Mohammed Kunhi, the president of the DKHEC, S. M. Rasheed Haji, Rasheed Haji, B. A. Moideen Bawa, K. M. Basha and others were present at the inauguration ceremony, which was held at 10:00 a.m.

During the passport mela, organizers will assist applicants to fill in the application forms and will explain the procedure to them. The applicants are then required to visit the passport office in Mangalore to get their passports.

KSHC Initiative
Since the Central Hajj Committee introduced a new rule last year that all aspiring Hajj pilgrims need to have their passports while submitting their Hajj applications, the KSHC has launched an initiative to assist aspiring Hajj pilgrims to obtain passports in time.

All Hajj applications without passport numbers will be rejected. B. R. Abdul Wajid, a representative of the KSHC, said that arrangements have been made to get the passports early to prevent future confusion. Last year, a number of pilgrims had blamed the Hajj Committee because their passports were not cleared by the passport authorities.

Mr. Wajid also said that passport officials will assist applicants to gain access to online passport applications at the State Hajj Committee’s Bangalore office. He also voiced his opinion that the new rule will require extra efforts from the Hajj Committee because processing passport applications is not easy and police verification for the same might take a long time.

Those who reside in Bangalore Urban and Rural, Chamarajanagar, Bidar, Chikballapur, Chickmagalur, Gulbarga, Chitradurga, Kolar, Hassan, Mysore, Mandya, Ramanagar, Raichur, Tumkur, Shimoga, and Yadgir can submit their passport applications to the Bangalore Hajj Committee office on Richmond Road.

Applicants in DK, North Kannada, Kodagu, and Udupi can submit their documents at the current passport mela.  

Those who reside in Belgaum, Bagalkot, Bijapur, Bellary, Dharwad, Davanagere, Koppal, and Haveri must submit their applications at Bright Educational Welfare Cultural and Religious Association in Hubli.

Additional Passport Applications  
The Regional Passport Office and Passport Seva Kendras (PKSs) have begun issuing extra passport applications for aspiring Hajj pilgrims this year. PKSs have opened new counters and offices for this purpose in Mangalore, Gulbarga, and Hubli.

Dr. K. J. Shreenivasa, the regional passport officer, said that 350 applications will be issued for Hajj pilgrims alone in addition to 2,500 regular passport applications.

He said that a number of aspirants were unable to go on their pilgrimage because they did not get their passports on time, adding that arrangements have been made to prevent such disappointment in future.

The Lalbagh PSK will issue 150 extra applications, the Marathhalli office will issue 100 applications, the Mangalore office will issue 30 applications, and the Hubli office will issue 20 applications.

The Gulbarga Passport Office, which was recently inaugurated, will also issue passport applications to Hajj aspirants. Dr. Shreenivasa said that passport offices in Gulbarga and Mangalore will help Hajj aspirants who cannot travel to Bangalore.

Karnataka Hajj Pilgrims
Over 50,000 people from Karnataka undertake the Hajj journey annually. The Hajj committee organizes a lottery to ensure transparency in the process.

The passport officials have asked the members of the Hajj Committee to clear the list of people who are selected for the Hajj pilgrimage this year. When the list is finalized, the aspirants can apply for their passports and receive it before the date of leaving.