Kerala govt demands increase in Haj quota

By Ashraf Padanna/ThiruvananthapuramKerala, where Muslims constitute 26.6mn of its 33.4mn population, has demanded an increase in its sub-quota for Haj.However, the federal government is unlikely to agree as the decadal growth of the state’s Muslim population is far less than the national average.In a letter to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Kerala’s Haj Minister, P K Kunhalikutty, pointed out that many of those in queue for their maiden Haj were fifth-time applicants.“Many states find it difficult to fill their quotas while we receive applications several times in excess. It should be re-fixed accordingly,” the Kerala minister demanded.He said the number of applicants from the state was likely to rise as online submission of applications was also possible this year.The last date for applying has been extended to March 2 from February 20. The Qurrah (draw of lots) for selecting pilgrims will be held from March 16-24.The camp for master trainers will be held in Mumbai on March 25-26 while the All India Haj Conference is scheduled for April 23.The first flight carrying pilgrims will take off on August 17 and the last flight will be on September 19. Inbound flights will begin from September 29.“The number of people wishing to perform Haj is much higher in Kerala,” the minister pointed out.India’s Haj quota for 2015 was fixed at 136,020 in the annual agreement concluded early this month between India and Saudi Arabia. It was signed by Bandar Hajjar, the Haj minister of Saudi Arabia and India’s junior foreign minister V K Singh in Jeddah.Of the pilgrim quota fixed for India, 100,020 will come through the Haj Committee of India (HCI) with private tour operators handling the remaining 36,000 pilgrims.Last year, 6,848 applicants picked from a total of 56,111 from Kerala, went on pilgrimage through the official channel.Only 4,390 of the 7,897 fourth timers got a chance through Qurrah though all 2,211 applicants over 70 years of age were automatically cleared.The HCI had fixed Kerala’s quota at 6,054 which was raised to 6,848 after unfilled quotas were reallocated as against the previous year’s 8,431, including more than 1,000 surplus seats allotted later.There was also a dip in the total allotment for the country due to the renovation works in the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah.The quota was based on the 2001 population figures when the community in the state accounted for around 8%. According to the 2011 census data, out recently, the state accounts for a little over 5% of India’s 171.8mn Muslims.Accordingly, the quota is likely to dwindle further this year.Though the size of the state’s Muslim community is smaller compared to larger states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal, it tops in the number of applications for pilgrimage every year.