GUWAHATI, Dec 6 � The State Haj Committee should be dissolved and newly reconstituted with competent and efficient members to ensure that pilgrims visiting Mecca and Medina do no undergo trials and tribulations as they have this year.
This was a demand raised by a number of people who have expressed anguish over the experiences of Haj pilgrims from Assam. A significant number of aspiring pilgrims could not make it to the holy sites even after paying money, while others have complained over transport, accommodation and lost luggage.
In a press meet held in the city today, noted academic Md Taher said that this year Haj goers from Assam have had to endure great difficulties right from the time they arrived at Guwahati�s Haji Musafirkhana till the time they returned from their pilgrimage.
During the entire process, many had a terrible time finding accommodation, and getting proper information. They were also unable to communicate with any member of the Haj Committee when they were in real distress.
Journalist Wasbir Hussain pointed out that the present Haj Committee has failed to discharge its responsibility and hence there was a need for its reconstitution. �We should have people who can shoulder responsibility and help out the pilgrims if and when called for. Besides it needs to be considered if a politician has to be a head of the Haj Committee. There are states where the Haj committees are chaired by people who are not politicians and which function well,� he said.
He was of the view that the state Haj committee failed to make pilgrims aware about key things, which included information on filing passport application, vaccination, transport and accommodation, all of which led to unwanted situations.
There was a total lack of co-ordination which contributed to difficulties for the pilgrims, and the government appointed caretakers proved to be inept in discharging their duties.
Recalling his personal experiences, Dr Taufiq Borbora, former principal of Assam Medical College said that his problems started from the time of getting himself vaccinated and continued till he caught his return flight from Saudi Arabia.
Among his travails, he and others were asked to reach the LGBI Airport a day in advance, even though the authorities could have known that the flight would leave the next day. In Mecca and Medina, even though he was on the look out, he saw no trace of the Government appointed caretaker known as khadim.
Those who attended the press meet underlined the need for a government enquiry to fix accountability on those whose failures lead to the fiasco, so that this year�s incidents were not repeated.
It may be mentioned that several pilgrims who made it through the difficult visit were in for a shock after they had landed in Guwahati as their luggage had gone missing on the return trip.
GUWAHATI, Dec 6 � The State Haj Committee should be dissolved and newly reconstituted with competent and efficient members to ensure that pilgrims visiting Mecca and Medina do no undergo trials and tribulations as they have this year.
This was a demand raised by a number of people who have expressed anguish over the experiences of Haj pilgrims from Assam. A significant number of aspiring pilgrims could not make it to the holy sites even after paying money, while others have complained over transport, accommodation and lost luggage.
In a press meet held in the city today, noted academic Md Taher said that this year Haj goers from Assam have had to endure great difficulties right from the time they arrived at Guwahati�s Haji Musafirkhana till the time they returned from their pilgrimage.
During the entire process, many had a terrible time finding accommodation, and getting proper information. They were also unable to communicate with any member of the Haj Committee when they were in real distress.
Journalist Wasbir Hussain pointed out that the present Haj Committee has failed to discharge its responsibility and hence there was a need for its reconstitution. �We should have people who can shoulder responsibility and help out the pilgrims if and when called for. Besides it needs to be considered if a politician has to be a head of the Haj Committee. There are states where the Haj committees are chaired by people who are not politicians and which function well,� he said.
He was of the view that the state Haj committee failed to make pilgrims aware about key things, which included information on filing passport application, vaccination, transport and accommodation, all of which led to unwanted situations.
There was a total lack of co-ordination which contributed to difficulties for the pilgrims, and the government appointed caretakers proved to be inept in discharging their duties.
Recalling his personal experiences, Dr Taufiq Borbora, former principal of Assam Medical College said that his problems started from the time of getting himself vaccinated and continued till he caught his return flight from Saudi Arabia.
Among his travails, he and others were asked to reach the LGBI Airport a day in advance, even though the authorities could have known that the flight would leave the next day. In Mecca and Medina, even though he was on the look out, he saw no trace of the Government appointed caretaker known as khadim.
Those who attended the press meet underlined the need for a government enquiry to fix accountability on those whose failures lead to the fiasco, so that this year�s incidents were not repeated.
It may be mentioned that several pilgrims who made it through the difficult visit were in for a shock after they had landed in Guwahati as their luggage had gone missing on the return trip.
