KOCHI: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday said the state has not been getting Haj quota seats proportional to the number of applications from here. He was speaking after inaugurating this year’s Haj camp at the Cochin International Airport at Nedumbassery.“Efforts will continue to get Haj quota seats proportional to the applications. The issue has been brought to the attention of the Central Government,” Pinarayi said.
Right from submitting applications to the day pilgrims arrive here after the pilgrimage, the state government and the Haj committee are on the forefront for arranging all facilities, he said.
The Kerala model Haj service is worth emulating in other states. Appointing trainers and volunteers to assist pilgrims is the speciality of the state. The state had organised a camp for the trainers who could not attend the camp organised by the Central Government, he said.Local Self-Government Minister K T Jaleel presided over the function.The first flight carrying pilgrims will take off from here on Sunday morning. A total of 900 pilgrims will go for the pilgrimage on Sunday alone.