Trouble mounts for Indian private Haj tour operators amid central government's delay
New Delhi: The delayed response from the Minority Affairs Department of the Central Government has posed a challenge for private tour operators tasked with facilitating VIP accommodations for pilgrims embarking on the Holy Haj pilgrimage from various states, including Karnataka.
In a customary arrangement during the Hajj pilgrimage the government of Saudi Arabia used to to establish tents near Meena in the city of Makkah,. Typically, tour operators would transfer funds to an International Bank Account Number (IBAN) to cover expenses such as tents and transportation. However, a new regulation implemented by the Saudi Arabian government requires tour operators worldwide to deposit funds into the accounts of their respective country's Hajj-related government missions in Makkah.
Consequently, Indian private tour operators have been instructed to deposit funds into the account of the Indian Hajj Mission, which will manage the finances and provide operators with the necessary account details for conducting transactions. While Hajj ministries in South Asian countries like the UAE, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka have already facilitated similar arrangements for their operators, the Indian Ministry of Minority Affairs has yet to authorize such transactions.
This delay has left many private tour operators in a precarious position, as some operators mistakenly transferred funds to the old IBAN account, resulting in financial setbacks. Failure to provide promised VIP accommodations in Meena could lead to significant challenges and potential embarrassment for reputable tour operators, especially if pilgrims are left dissatisfied.
Shaukat Ali Sultan, President of the Karnataka Haj Organizers Association, expressed concerns over the situation, highlighting the urgency for government intervention. He emphasized the need for Minority Affairs Minister Smriti Irani to engage in negotiations with the Saudi Arabian government to address the issue and ensure smoother operations for future Hajj seasons. Failure to resolve the matter could result in logistical challenges and inconvenience for both tour operators and pilgrims.
"Private tour operators all over the country are facing problems due to this new rule. The Indian Hajj Mission will not do any work without the direction from the Union Ministry of Minority Affairs. Several tour operators have already brought their problems to the attention of the Central Government through email. However, no response has been received from the Central Government." He said.
"All the government offices are closed in Saudi Arabia due to the Ramadan festival. The offices will probably start from Monday. If the Ministry of Minority Affairs does not come to our aid in this matter, the situation may worsen. We were happy because we got the certificates quickly this time. But, now we are stuck in the matter of payment.
"Normally, the process of issuing Hajj visa was started from the 20th of Shawwal. However, this time they started from the 10th of Ramadan. However, we are facing a big problem as our money is not credited to the Indian Hajj Mission account." He added.
"This time we will deposit the money from the IBAN account. We request the Union Minority Affairs Minister Smriti Irani to negotiate with the Saudi Arabian government to adopt the new system from next year. Otherwise, we will get tents in a very remote area in Meena. This will cause a lot of trouble to us and the pilgrims." He further added.
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Karnataka Health Dept bars leave for staff amid ASHA workers’ strike starting Aug 12
Bengaluru, Aug 11 (PTI): In response to a planned three-day strike by ASHA workers starting August 12, the Karnataka Health Department on Monday issued a notice prohibiting all officers and staff from taking leave during the protest period, except in cases of medical emergencies.
Accredited Social Health Activists workers are demanding the fixed honorarium of Rs 10,000 promised by the state government in January. They have announced a continuous state-level protest from August 12 to 14.
The notice stated, “Information about ASHA workers absent from duty within district limits will be collected daily from primary health centres, compiled at the district level, and submitted to the commissionerate by 3 pm during the protest.”
The Health Department also urged community health officers, primary health protection officers, health inspectors, and Anganwadi workers to cooperate in ensuring that health services to the public remain uninterrupted.
