Govt permission not needed for undertaking pligrimages abroad

New Delhi, Aug 27 (UNI) Indians going abroad for religious purposes, such as the Haj in Saudi Arabia and pilgrimages to Sikh shrines and Hindu temples in Pakistan, do not require the Government's permission for undertaking such trips.

However, ''the government is assisting/facilitating pilgrimages for the Haj to Saudi Arabia, the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra in China and pilgrimages to Sikh Gurudwaras and Hindu temples in Pakistan,'' official sources said.

In case of the Haj pilgrimage, Saudi Arabia fixes an annual quota for pilgrims from different countries for performing the most sacred duty by the devout Muslim.

Those going for the Haj through the Central Haj Committee (CHC) are provided a special document, called the ''Pilgrim Pass'' (in lieu of Passport), which is valid for travel to Saudi Arabia only for the Haj.

However, those who go to Saudi Arabia for the Haj through private tour operators travel on the basis of regular passports, the sources said.

The Central Haj Committee issued 83,298 ''Pilgrim Passes'' last year for the Muslim devout while in 2004 and 2003, the number of such passes issued were 75,139 and 72,634 respectively.

Unlike the Pilgrim Passes in case of the Haj, the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra in China is conducted on the basis of regular passports.

A total of 529 pilgrims performed this Yatra, considered to be among the toughest pilgrimages, last year. The number came down slightly from 537 pilgrims in 2004. However, only 316 people undertook this arduous pligrimage in 2003.

The sources pointed out that the pilgrimages to Sikh Gurudwaras and Hindu temples in Pakistan are also performed on the basis of regular passports.

A total of 8179 Indian pilgrims visited Pakistan last year to pay their obesiance in Sikh shrines or Hindu temples. The figures in 2003 and 2004 stood at 3776 and 7636, respectively.

With regard to the Haj pilgrimage, the sources said the government had been providing subsidy towards air fare to those pilgrims going to Mecca through the Central Haj Committee.

Last year, the government sanctioned subsidy worth Rs 179.66 crore to the Haj pilgrims as compared to Rs 160.70 crore in 2004 and Rs 172.63 crore in 2003.

Similarly, the government paid Rs. 3250 for each pilgrim to Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam for arrangements made for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra.

''Other facilities provided by the Government included free medical assistance, security and escort cover by the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) till the Lipulekh Pass on the Indian side and provision of satellite phone and a Liaison Officer for each batch of pilgrims for use during emergency,'' the sources pointed out.

For pilgrims going to Pakistan, the Indian High Commission in Islamabad normally deputes Liaison Officers to take care of them.

The sources also said the Central government had not imposed any tax on such pilgrimages. ''Similarly, the governments of Saudi Arabia, China and Pakistan do not charge any taxes from the pilgrims going for these pilgrimages.'' UNI/SKS MSJ PM1115