The Union Minister for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Friday said that those wishing to go for Hajj will have to take both doses of anti-Covid-19 vaccines.
Naqvi said that the entire process of Hajj-2022 will be under the guidelines on Corona set by the governments of India and Saudi Arabia.
After presiding over the Haj review meeting here, he also said that the official announcement of Hajj-2022 would be made in the first week of next month and the process of application would also start at the same time.
The minister said, "This time keeping in mind the health and corona protocol of Saudi Arabia and the Government of India, preparations for Hajj 2022 have been started.
The official announcement of Haj 2022 will be made in the first week of November, along with that the process of online application for Hajj will also be started. India's entire process of Haj 2022 will be 100% online/digital.
According to Naqvi, special training has been arranged for people going for Hajj-2022 in India and Saudi Arabia regarding corona protocol and health and hygiene. In view of the pandemic situation in Hajj 2022, national-international protocol guidelines will be strictly followed.
He said, "The entire process of Hajj-2022 is being done according to the eligibility criteria, age criteria, health condition, and other necessary guidelines to be decided by the Government of Saudi Arabia and the Government of India in view of the Corona disaster."
Naqvi said that keeping in mind the corona pandemic and its impact, significant changes, and improvements have been made in the Hajj arrangements.
These include accommodation in India and Saudi Arabia, duration of stay of Haj pilgrims in Saudi Arabia, transportation, health, and other arrangements.
He also informed that more than 3000 women had applied for Hajj 2020-2021 without "Mehram" (male relative). Those women who applied for Haj 2020 and 2021 under Hajj pilgrimage without "Mehram" will be valid for Hajj 2022 as well.