Goa State Haj Committee chairman, Shaikh Jina seen addressing a press conference. Also seen (from l to r): Molali Abdul Aziz Shaikh, Yusuf Shaikh, Shaikh Sayeedi Ahmed and Abdul B Makandar. Santosh Mirajker
Goa State Haj Committee gears up for Haj
Forms should reach office by February 8
THE GOAN NETWORK
MARGAO
Members of the Goa State Haj Committee have appealed to all those Muslims of Goa who wish to embark on Haj pilgrimage to submit their forms by February 5, so that the form reaches this office in the stipulated time, that is February 8.
Announcing this at a press conference, Goa State Haj Committee chairman, Shaikh Jina, said banners and other details in this regard have already been displayed in the respective masjids for this purpose.
Jina said the committee has appointed their representative in each constituency to facilitate this job. He requested the interested Haj pilgrims to contact such representative for further formalities.
The applicant must have a machine readable valid Indian passport issued on or before February 8, and it should be valid at least up to March 10, 2017, Jina added.
Jina informed that the State Haj Committee had received a total of 290 forms last year of which 186 Muslims had embarked on the Haj pilgrimage. He pegged the Goa quota at 185, which is an increase from the earlier 65.
As regards government subsidy for Haj pilgrimage, Jina claimed it was enhanced from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 16 lakh and thereafter to Rs 20 lakh by the BJP government headed by former chief minister Manohar Parrikar. "The first flight from Goa for Haj pilgrimage departed in the year 2012," Jina informed.
Haj Committee members Molali Abdul Aziz Shaikh, Yusuf Shaikh, Shaikh Sayeedi Ahmed and Abdul B Makandar were also present for the press conference.
