In India, the government introduced a new Hajj policy on Saturday, in which it has been proposed to abolish the provision of subsidy while implementing the order of the Supreme Court and allow women of more than 45 years to go to Hajj without Meharam.

'Haj Policy 2018-22' has been discussed to work on the option of sending Haj pilgrims through sea. It may be a cheap option for people to go to Hajj via sea-shipped in the coming time.

According to sources, this provision has been made that the number of places of departure of Haj pilgrims will be reduced from 21 to nine. A high-level committee constituted to prepare the Haj Policy had submitted its report to Union Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi.

The new Hajj policy has been prepared according to the order of the Supreme Court of 2012.

The Supreme Court had said in its order that the subsidy should be abolished within a span of 10 years. Retired IAS officer Afzal Amanullah was the convenor of the committee formed by the Ministry of Minority Affairs.

Former Judge SS Parker, former Chairman of the Haj Committee of India, Kaiser Shamim, and knower of Islam religion, Kamal Farooq were the member and Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Minority Affairs J Alam was the member secretary.

Union Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said, "In 2018, Haj will be under the new Haj Policy. Given the proposed facilities, this is a better policy. It will be a transparent and public-friendly policy. This will ensure the safety of Haj pilgrims."

The proporation of the Haj Committee and the Haj pilgrims going through private tour operators has also been made clear in the new Haj Policy. Now 70 per cent of the total quota of Haj pilgrims will go through the Haj Committee and 30 per cent will go to Haj through private tour operators.

Now women over 45 years of age will be able to go to Hajj without Meharam, although they can go to a group of four women.

There is also a proposal to extend from Kota 200 to 500 for Meharam.

Significantly, Meharam tells him that there can not be a woman's (Nikah) marriage. For example, father, brother, son and grandson can be Meharam.

Now the number of departure points for Haj will be reduced from 21 to nine. People from Delhi, Lucknow, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Kochi will be able to departure for Haj.

Proposals have also been made to build suitable Haj Bhawan in these cities and to facilitate contact between remote areas and these departures.

There is also a proposal to consult with the Saudi Arabian government on the option of Hajj through sea route and to advertise the interest and services of ship companies.

Under the new Haj Policy, the provision of Haj quota for States and Union Territories will be done in proportion to their Muslim population here.

There is also a proposal to extend Kota from 1500 to 2000 for Jammu and Kashmir.

It has been proposed in the new Haj Policy that to ensure Indian Hajis are ensured within the traditional boundaries of Mina.

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