Haj quota curbed despite Growth in Population of Muslim

Even if the latest figures show a rapid growth of Muslim population in India , there has been a revelation in regard to every Muslim wanting to visit Haj once in his lifetime, showing a decline as per the quota available and its curbed. The decline has been marked at 21% last year. The information was sought by RTI activist Anil Galgali. The Haj Committee of India in it's reply to the RTI Activist Anil Galgali has said that in 2014 a total of 99,914 pilgrims have travelled to the Saudi Arabia for Haj, Uttar Pradesh topping the list of maximum Muslims travelling, followed by West Bengal and then Maharashtra.   RTI Activist Anil Galgali ask a various information to Haj Committee. Abdul Shaikh, public information officer of the Haj Committee of India has provide the figures to Galgali for the period of 2011 to 2014. In 2014, a total of 99,914 people travelled to Haj. Of that, 24,622 alone came from Uttar Pradesh, and 9,358 came from West Bengal. Maharashtra sent 8,490, followed by Jammu and Kashmir (6984), Kerela 6,517) Bihar (6,224) Andhra Pradesh (5,775)Karnataka (5,337) Rajasthan (3,942) and Gujrat (3,779). One special thing needs a mention here, that there is a quota of 500 out of which 468 people have benefited under this quota to travel to Haj.  As compared to 2011, 2012 and 2013 and 2014 has seen a sharp decline of of at-least 20,000 to 25,000 of people travelling. In 2011 a total of 3,02,616 people had applied for travelling to their place of pilgrimage. Out of the 1,25,000 of the allotted quota, only 1,24,901 were able to travel. In 2012, the quota was merely increased by 110 seats, in all making the quota of 1,25,110. A total of 3,07,309 people had applied for the same. 1,25,064 people were able to travel. But in 2013, surprisingly the quota was reduced to a number of 1,21, 420. Again 2,98,325 applied for their once in a lifetime wish but only 1,21,338 could make it in the list as per the quota. Now the situation for Haj travellers is far from better. The Haj Committee of India had brought down the quota to 1,00,104 and only 99,914 people were able to make it. So in comparison to 2011, in 2014 a decline of 21% has been seen for Haj pilgrims. Govt of India should pressure on Saudi Arabia to increase Haj Quota, said Galgali. #Maharashtra tops in application Even thought Uttar Pradesh tops in the number of people travelling to Haj, there is always a record from Maharashtra, for applications for the same. From the period of 2011 to 2013 1,21,957 applications have been sent by the people of Maharashtra and out of those 32,790 people have got their opportunity.  # Government Quota reduced The basic quota has been reduced forcing the Centre also to reduce its numbers reserved reducing it to just 500 seats. In 2011 quota was 6760, in 2012 it was 735, in 2013 it was 500 and in 2014 also 500 seats had been reduced. #  51 crore spent on suitcases. People coming for the Haj yatra have been warned by the Saudi Arabia Government to follow strict norms in the suitcases they bring along. A special design with measurements have been made available to External Ministry. The Ministry has already assigned the tender of procuring 2 lakhs of suitcases. Each pair would be costing Rs. 5,100, the amount which is collected form the people wanting to travel thus making the spending to reach 51 crore for the suitcases ordered.