DELHI, INDIA, August 10, 2005: The Minister of State for External Affairs, Shri E. Ahmed informed the Lok Sabha about the details of subsidy and other facilities which are being provided by Union Government, at present, for pilgrims visiting various religious shrines abroad. In summary, for the Hindu Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage, the government pays pays US$73 for each pilgrim to Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam (KMVN) for arrangements made by KMVN for the Yatra. In addition, during the course of the Yatra, facilities provided by the Government to the pilgrims include free medical assistance, security and escort cover by the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) till the Lipulekh Pass on the Indian side, communication links with China, and provision of satellite phone to the Liaison Officer for each batch of pilgrims for use during emergency throughout the Yatra. A Liaison Officer is attached by the Government with each batch of pilgrims, who is responsible for their general welfare. It is the Government’s endeavour to improve and upgrade facilities for the pilgrims going on the Yatra on a continuing basis. During the last three years (2002, 2003 & 2004), 1,322 pilgrims undertook Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, and an amount of approximately $98,000 was paid to the Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam (KMVN) for making the required arrangements for the Yatra.
The amount of subsidy provided by the Government to Haj pilgrims who perform Haj to Mecca in Saudia Arabia through the Haj Committee of India. In 2005 was $41 million, with similar amounts also spent in 2003 and 2004. The other facilities provided by the Government to the Haj pilgrims include setting up of hospitals and dispensaries in Saudi Arabia, supply of medicines, deputation of medical, para-medical and administrative staff. The Consulate General of India in Jeddah also renders assistance in making various logistical arrangements for the pilgrims performing Haj through the Haj Committee of India. The above information was given by the Minister in reply to a question by Kunwar Manvendra Singh. (HPI adds: This particular report does not say how many Haj pilgrims were subsidized in 2005, however in 2002, according to one web report, 77,000 Haj pilgrims were subsidized.)