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Jeddah Hajj Welfare Forum, is a voluntary body working for the welfare of
Indian Hajis. More than 20 social, cultural and religious organizations of
Kerala Community in Jeddah join together during Hajj season to make a
common platform for performing Hajj related volunteer services to the
Indian Hajis. By organizing such services for the last 10 years under the
banner of Jeddah Hajj Welfare Forum, the body has gained substantial
experience and expertise in Hajj services and widely accepted among the
local community as well as by the Local Hajj Ministry, Service Forums,
Hajj Missions, Indian Consulate and Muthawefs. Currently, the Jeddah Hajj
Welfare Forum has a commitment of more than 500 volunteers to offer Hajj
related services during the pilgrim season.
Jeddah Hajj Welfare Forum is focusing, not restricted, on the following
areas of their service to the Indian Hajis: -
1. Airport assistance at Arrival & Departure points to the extent
possible
2. Emergency Medical Aid Services ( Wheel Chairs, Medicines,
Ambulances, Motor Cycles, etc. are lined up and support from Polyclinics
at different locations is pre-arranged.)
3. Assisting the burial of deceased Hajis with required
documentation from the related authorities, and the relatives of such
Hajis will be supported during the time of their crisis.
4. Being Camped in Mina and the suburbs, our volunteers ensure to
guide the proper direction to the Hajis with site maps to the sites of
Hajj rituals from time to time and back to their respective camps/ tents
etc.
5. Lost & Found Services to Hajis at all Hajj locations.
6. Food Supply Services to the maximum possible.
God willing, we shall continue to extend the above services in the years
to come with more zeal and enthusiasm and we are getting wholehearted
support from the community in all respects.
We observe that when compared to the Private Groups, the Hajis belonging
to Central Hajj Committee suffer a lot in the Hajj locations.
On the basis of our past experience we have some suggestions to put
forward to the attention and for the kind consideration of Central Hajj
Committee, as it is the policy makers for a smooth and successful Hajj
pilgrimage in the years to come.
1. Hajis from one State should not be allocated under different
Muthawefs. If efforts are made to distribute Hajis State wise to Mutawefs,
then their accommodation and movement will be in the same group.
2. There will be more secured feeling among Hajis if they stayed
together in a group who speak same language and share the same food by
assisting each other. Hajis staying together in one building can help each
other during the time of emergencies such as helping those who missed
direction and sickness or even at death.
3. When Buildings in Makkah and Madinah are selected, the
assistance of local Indian expatriates could be sought for selecting good
quality accommodation. The Hajj Welfare Forum workers can also assist
effectively in this matter if required.
4. Indian Hajis are suffering a lot in Mina as food is not provided
by the Muthawef while the food is provided by the Private Groups. There
must be a solution for this problem. Similarly there should be an
agreement with Muthawef for providing food with an extra payment for such
service. (It is only a matter of SR 100 for 5 days Hajj and even if some
are not using it, the expense will be marginal). The catering service will
be easier if Muthawefes are allocated state wise.
5. Considering the accommodation constraints, in and around Makkah
and Madinah Harams, due to expansion activities, it is vital that the
numbers of Pilgrims should be decided based on the available accommodation
facilities. There is no doubt that the tremendous increase of pilgrims in
the last moment without prior arrangement for accommodation, travel and
medical facilities would end up in the hardship of pilgrims. Hence, it
should be avoided.
6. When Hajj volunteers from India are selected, they should know
Arabic and English than Indian languages. Preferences should be given to
the willing volunteers from Saudi Arabian returnees with minimum 10 years
working experience in Makkah, Jeddah or surrounding areas given their
capability to deliver assistance in Makkah.
7. There are exploitations of Hajis by some unscrupulous Private
Hajj Group Operators. Their ways of exploitation have to be monitored and
their operations should be stopped. More accountability by the Private
Groups should be enforced.
8. Indian Hajj Mission should facilitate easy servicing of Indian
Hajis with the Volunteers of Hajj Welfare Forum by issuing them “Volunteer
I.D. Cards” so that they will have easy approach to Muthawefs Hajj Tents,
Medical Clinics, and Security Personnel in Hajj sites.
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