Haj application process on Monday went digital for the first time with Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi launching the Haj Committee of India Mobile App for clearing applications.
launching the Mobile App, Naqvi said that Ministry of Minority Affairs has joined the Digital India campaign in a big way making several processes relating to Haj digital or online. The Central Government has been “encouraging online applications for next Haj” so that people can get an opportunity for the pilgrimage “with complete transparency and comfort”, the Minister said in Mumbai.
This mobile app will be available on Google Playstore from January 2, 2017. The next Haj has already been announced and application will be accepted from Monday. The last date for submitting applications is January 24, according to a statement of the ministry.
Application for Haj, enquiry and information, news and updates and e-payment are the main features of the App.
Five adults and two infants can apply together as a group. A PDF copy of the form will go to applicant’s email. After affixing the photo, the printout with documents is to be sent to the State Haj Committees. Registration fees can also be made through this app.
Naqvi said that last month a new website of Haj was also launched in New Delhi which is in Hindi, Urdu and English languages. The website will provide all the necessary information regarding Haj.
During Haj 2016, about 45,843 people had applied for Haj online which was about 11 per cent of total applications received from across the nation for Haj. Maharashtra topped the list of online applications for Haj 2016 with a total of 10,960 people applying through the digital medium. In all, 9257 online applications were received from Kerala, 5407 from Uttar Pradesh, 2983 from Telangana, 2426 from Jammu and Kashmir and 2425 online applications had been received from Gujarat.
About 99,903 people went to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia for Haj from 21 embarkation points across India through Haj Committee of India during Haj 2016. Apart from this, about 36,000 Haj pilgrims had proceeded for Haj through the private tour operators, the Ministry said.