Haj 2006 11 subsidy scheme to benefit 1.1 lakh pilgrims: Govt

New Delhi, Nov 16 (UNI) The Centre today approved the travel of 110,000 pilgrims under the government subsidy scheme for performing Haj during the Haj 2006-II, commencing towards the end of this month.

"This is an increase by 10,000 pilgrims from Haj 2006-I," Information and Broadcasting Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi told mediapersons after a meeting of the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

He said the government has also decided to retain the fare of Rs 12,000 to be paid by each Haj pilgrim for the round trip to Jeddah/Medina and the remaining cost to be paid by the government as subsid to the airline transporting the pilgrims.

No fresh embarkation points have been added to the existing 15 points in India from where pilgrims are taken to Jeddah and brought back.

Saudi Arabian Airways will transport up to 60,000 pilgrims from Mumbai, Delhi, Ahmedabad and Hyderabad, and the balance by Air India and Indian Airlines from Kolkata, Kozhikode, Nagpur, Aurangabad, Patna, Guwahati, Jaipur and Srinagar.

Official sources said there has been a steady increase in the number of Haj pilgrims - 71,924 in 2000 to 99,926 in 2006-I.

However, the fare paid by each pilgrim has remained Rs 12,000 since 1994. While the subsidy per passenger in 1994 was Rs 5000, it went up to approximately Rs 28,000 in 2006.

UNI SN SH VD RK1826