An increase in the number of pilgrims from 127,000 to 137,000 - an all-time high - and the proposal to add Bhopal, Indore and Jodhpur as additional embarkation points are key issues being discussed at the annual All-India Haj Conference here Monday. 

Inaugurating the conference at Vigyan Bhavan here, External Affairs Minister K. Natwar Singh stressed on the government's commitment to making Haj "as comfortable and affordable as possible for the pilgrims".

Minister of State for External Affairs E. Ahamed and Minister of State for Civil Aviation Praful Patel were also present.  

"Our Haj arrangements are acknowledged as one of the best in the world and appreciated by the Saudi authorities. The government is always sensitive to the needs of the Hajis and will continue to streamline and improve various arrangements," he said.    

Central and state Haj committees, members of parliament, religious scholars and government officials participate in the Haj Conference and jointly review and deliberate upon the experiences of the previous Haj. They also discuss inadequacies and flaws, if any, to ensure better arrangements for the next Haj.

Of the 137,000 pilgrims, 82,000 will go through the Haj Committee of India (HCOI) and the rest through private registered operators. The number of pilgrims arriving in Jeddah directly from embarkation points in India total 100,000. Those going through HCOI, who will take Saudi Arabian Airlines, number 52,000. Air-India will carry 30,000 pilgrims.

Subject to further examination and approval, it is proposed to add Bhopal or Indore as an additional embarkation point during Haj 2006. "I would also urge that Jodhpur be considered as an additional embarkation point due to considerable demand from that are," said Natwar Singh.

Early this week, Ahamed had gone to Saudi Arabia to finalise Haj arrangements for 2006 and signed an agreement with the Saudi authorities.

To ensure that the pilgrims get accommodation of their choice, another category has been created this time. There will now be four categories of accommodation for pilgrims to choose from in Makkah: 2,400 Saudi Riyal (SR) for category I; 2,000 SR for category II; 1,650 SR for category III A; and 1,050 SR for category III B.

A contingent of officials, doctors and paramedical staff will accompany Haj pilgrims to ensure their well-being and safety.

Besides, there will be total computerisation of pilgrims' location and movement, including of those performing Haj through the private tour operators. The website of the Indian consulate general in Jeddah provides the whereabouts of all the pilgrims to enable their relatives in India to communicate with them during their stay in Saudi Arabia.

Natwar Singh also reminded state representatives about the new Haj Committee Act 2002, which repealed the old law of 1959 and provides for a more representative and broad-based character to the Haj Committee.

He urged those states that have so far not constituted their Haj committees in pursuance of the new act to do so expeditiously so that zonal elections can be held without delay.

He also requested them to ensure that the audited accounts of the HCOI are placed before parliament without further delay.