Hyderabad: The Government is making every effort to accommodate all the 9,225 Haj pilgrims from the State. The State quota had been increased from 4,955 to 6,806 following intervention of Chief Minister Y.S. Rajashekhar Reddy. "We hope the quota will be further increased and there will be no need to hold `qurrah' (the draw of lots)", said Mohd Fareeduddin, Minister for Minorities Welfare.

He was inaugurating the `training for trainers camp' for zone III at the Haj House here on Monday. About 62 trainers from Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh and Orissa are attending the two-day training programme. They are being imparted training in both logistics and rituals - to be performed during the Haj. In turn, the trainers will hold orientation camps for the pilgrims.

The State Haj Committee, Mr. Fareeduddin said, would be holding about 10 training camps for the pilgrims.

A review meeting with various departments would also be held shortly to fine-tune the arrangements.

Complex job

Ausaf Sayeed, Consul General of India in Jeddah, said making arrangements for pilgrims was a very complex job. This was accomplished with the cooperation of various agencies in India and Saudi Arabia.

The pilgrims should be trained about various rituals and also the precautions to be taken during the Haj.

Last year 62 Indians died in the stampede. There is a need to give proper orientation to the pilgrims, he said.

C.P. Kunhi Mohammed, member, Central Haj Committee, said there could be some increase in the State quota as there was lot of pressure from the State Government.

Sirajunnisa, vice-chairperson, Haj Committee of India, Police Commissioner A.K. Mohanty, also spoke.

Earlier, Mohd. Ghouse Mohiuddin, chairman, State Haj Committee, welcomed the gathering.

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