4,314 Indian women set to perform Haj without 'Mehram' this year
New Delhi, Mar 29: As many as 4,314 Indian women are set to perform Haj without 'Mehram (male companion)' this year, the largest since the reform in 2018 which did away with the compulsion of a male companion with women on the pilgrimage, officials said.
In a first, the Minority Affairs Ministry has also made comprehensive arrangements for the health of the Haj pilgrims with health desks at airports and medical screening by government doctors.
With a view to ensure quality health support to pilgrims, the Ministry of Minority Affairs is collaborating with the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare for comprehensive health arrangements for pilgrims planning to visit Mecca.
Each year, Saudi Arabia hosts around 25 lakh to 30 lakh pilgrims from across the globe to visit Mecca and India sends the third largest contingent of pilgrims in the world.
Such large number of pilgrims also poses unique public health challenges, and the medical requirements of the pilgrims in Mecca, Madina, and Jeddah must be well-cared for, a statement issued by the ministry said.
For the present year, a quota of 1,75,025 pilgrims has been allotted to India. The first flight for the pilgrimage from India will begin on May 21.
With a view to ensure comprehensive and quality services to the pilgrims, Minority Affairs Minister Smriti Irani and Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya have undertaken a series of meetings accompanied by officials from both ministries.
In the last three months, more than 10 meetings have been organized on the subject between both the ministries and a detailed plan of action has been finalized, the statement said.
The Health Ministry accordingly has issued directions to all states on March 21, wherein they have been advised to provide for medical screening and fitness certificate for applicant pilgrims and a detailed format for such screening has been sent to the states.
With a view to aid the applicants, this year the medical screening and fitness certificate by the applicant can be issued by any government allopathic medical doctor in the States/UTs. This will ease the process of getting the medical screening certificates across the country.
Further, it has been directed that states and district health authorities will also set up camps for the selected pilgrims wherein the pre-departure detailed Medical Examination and Vaccination will also be provided, the statement said.
A health card for all the pilgrims will also be issued in these camps which will examine the selected pilgrims for their present health status, the existing diseases/co-morbidities, if any.
It is planned that the health status will be made available to the medical teams in Saudi Arabia through digital means for timely health service delivery in case of any emergency.
Each state has accordingly been advised to nominate a Nodal Officer for coordinating the activities in collaboration with the State Minority Welfare Department.
The Ministry of Health will procure and provide the required number of Quadrivalent Meningococcal Meningitis Vaccine (QMMV) and the Seasonal Influenza Vaccines (SIV) to the pilgrims.
Health desks will also be set up at all departing airports for coordinating health needs of the pilgrims during the departure, the statement said.
With a view to plan the requirement of health infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, the Health Ministry is also sending a team of senior clinicians during the first week of April 2023, to plan for the requirement of temporary hospitals, dispensaries, pharmacies and camps as needed in Mecca, Madina, Jeddah, Arafat and at the core ritual site of Mina. The team will assess the requirement of specialists, doctors and paramedical staff based on their field assessment, the statement said.
The team will examine the need for medical equipment and medicines for these health facilities and the same will be procured and made available by the Health Ministry.
To ensure quality, the available medicines from Jan Aushadhi stores will be procured and provided in these facilities, the statement said.
The Health Ministry has also addressed all states and Union Territories to also obtain list of willing government medical and paramedical professionals who will be selected based on the criteria of their experience, specialization and desirable qualifications for manning these health facilities.
The selected health professionals will also be extensively oriented on the expected health needs of the pilgrims to ensure quality health service delivery, the statement said.
The pilgrims will be screened for a wide range of medical issues in order to tackle any emergency effectively and quickly, which may arise during the pilgrimage.
The collaborative efforts done by Minority Affairs Ministry and the Health Ministry is expected to ensure easing the process of obtaining medical screening and fitness certificates and vaccination besides timely and quality healthcare services from point of embarkation till their return back to India, the statement said.
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If Ambedkar was not there, Nehru would not have allowed reservation for SCs and STs: PM Modi
Motihari (Bihar) (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday alleged that the INDIA bloc stood for corruption, appeasement politics and a "perverted anti-Sanatan mindset", all of which would receive a "big blow" when the Lok Sabha poll results are announced on June 4.
Addressing an election rally in the East Champaran Lok Sabha constituency of Bihar, the PM also launched indirect attacks on leaders like Rahul Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav and Tejashwi Yadav, who he said were "born with silver spoons".
"The nation cannot move forward with the sins of the INDIA bloc, which stands for corruption, appeasement politics, represents the 'tukde-tukde' gang and a perverted mindset that heaps scorn on Sanatan Dharma," he said.
"This is the reason why the INDIA bloc was exhausted in the very first phase of the elections. In the subsequent phases, it was battered. In the remaining two phases, the trend will continue and on June 4 when votes are counted, the results will come as a big blow to the intentions of the opposition alliance," he claimed.
Modi alleged that Congress wants to change the Constitution to "snatch" reservations from SCs, STs and OBCs, and hand it over to those who indulge in "vote jihad".
"If Ambedkar was not there, Nehru would not have allowed reservation for SCs and STs," he claimed.
Modi also bristled at the opposition parties' criticism of welfare schemes run by his government, claiming his opponents had "bundles of notes stashed away in Swiss banks" and could not understand the plight of the common people "the way I do, having been born in a poor family".
"They were opening accounts in Swiss banks, while the people of India were starving," he alleged.
Referring to Tejashwi Yadav, whom he did not mention by name, Modi said, "I am told that the 'waaris of jungle raaj' has been saying I will be advised bed rest after the Lok Sabha elections. The 'shehzada' of Congress says he wants to see me in tears. His party openly chants slogans like 'Modi teri kabr khudegi' (your grave will be dug)."
"These people have a counterpart in Uttar Pradesh (an allusion to Akhilesh Yadav) who says I have reached the end of my life and hence contesting from Varanasi," said Modi, adding that the remarks betrayed a lack of sensitivity on the part of those "born with silver spoons, who have never known what is a life filled with struggles".
In his speech, Modi also made a reference to the much-talked-about feast Gandhi had enjoyed at Lalu Prasad’s residence last year.
"Those who refused the invitation to the consecration of Ram temple in Ayodhya had no problems in sharing a meal with the corrupt," he said.
Modi also referred to East Champaran as Mahatma Gandhi's "karma bhoomi" and his own roots in Gujarat "the janmabhoomi (place of birth)".
"The Congress betrayed his ideals upon coming to power and devoted itself to promoting the interests of one family," he alleged.
"I have spent my first 10 years in power filling the potholes left by the Congress. I intend to speed up progress in the next term," said Modi as he spoke about his thrust on welfare measures like toilets for women "who had to suffer physical ailments because of the absence of this very basic of all amenities".
