NEW DELHI, 13 September 2003 — The Cabinet has decided to continue with the subsidy for Haj pilgrimage but made it clear that it would be a one-time facility. At a meeting of the Cabinet late last night, presided over by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, it was also decided that the subsidy would not be given to income-tax payees and to those who do not avail of Haj committee accommodation, Civil Aviation Minister Rajiv Pratap Rudy said.
The federal government decided on a set of qualifications for Haj pilgrims who are sponsored by the government.
From now, all pilgrims who avail of discounted tickets will have to be first-time travelers and poor enough to be out of the income-tax ambit and stay at the accommodation arranged by the Haj Committee.
