Chief Minister Raman Singh on Sunday distributed Haj kits to pilgrims at a programme held at Mata Sundari meeting hall situated in Khalsa School campus here.
“Worship offered at holy places such as temple, mosque or shrine with true sentiments of heart consist prayers for everyone’s well being. At this time, the centre of every religion’s belief becomes as peaceful as heaven for the worshippers” he said while addressing the Haj pilgrims.The kit contains First-aid box, Mat, Janmaj, Passport pouch and other items essentials for the journey.The Chief Minister urged pilgrims to pray for development of Chhattisgarh along with peace and prosperity for India and other parts of the globe.
“We have been making efforts to provide all possible help to Chhattisgarh State Haj Committee (CSHC) for making better arrangements for Haj pilgrims” said Singh.He mentioned that presently, Haj pilgrims have to go to Nagpur to catch international flight for Makkah – Madina.“I have discussed issues with the Union Civil Aviation Minister to get Swami Vivekananda International Airport in Raipur , the tag of an International Airport. After getting International Airport status, Haj pilgrims will be able to board flights for Haj from the airport in Raipur” Singh added.
The Chief Minister also asked the people of Muslim community to give stress on girls’ education.On this occasion, the ministers Kedar Kashyap, Prem Prakash Pandey and President of Chhattisgarh State Haj Committee (CSHC), Dr Salim Raj addressed the gathering and extended their best wishes for their pilgrimage.
Kashyap informed that CSHC has made many facilities for the pilgrims including a special Railway coach to ferry them to Nagpur. Besides, he also made announcement of establishing a Haj House in Raipur in the near future as the Chief Minister has given his consent for the same.As many as 345 pilgrims from Chhattisgarh will go on Haj to offer their prayers at Makkah and Madina, this year. On the occasion, CSHC also held a health check-up and vaccination programme for the pilgrims.
It may be mentioned here that the State government has also provided a free Android based App facility to Haj pilgrims of the State so that they may keep contact and find location of each other during their journey.According to State Haj Committee President Salim Raj, this Haj App would be operated on Android mobile phone.On the special initiative of Chief Minister Raman Singh, the government has developed this mobile application for the Chhattisgarh State Haj Committee. It has been given free of cost to theHaj pilgrims, he added.
The State government has also been providing mobile phone handsets to the Haj pilgrims, which they would return to the Haj Committee on returning from the pilgrimage, so that it would be used by pilgrims in the succeeding years.
Raj said that, for the first time in the country and the world, Chhattisgarh government has provided this IT based tool for the Haj pilgrims of the State.