MINA, 2 January 2007 — The South Asian Pilgrims Establishment introduced some new measures this year to cater to 425,000 pilgrims from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Myanmar.

For the first time they employed 100 women to reach out to female pilgrims and this proved to be very helpful.

“They helped them in many ways from serving food and water to guiding them about the streets of Mina,” said Rashad Mohammad Hashim, vice chairman of the establishment.

The establishment also made new arrangements to supply food through 160 muallims (pilgrim guides) to its pilgrims at subsidized prices. The pilgrims were charged SR100 for four days of food in Mina.

“We asked that pilgrims buy coupons for at least two to three days in advance so that we know how many people we have to cater to,” Hashim said.

“I’m getting food in my camp at reasonable price, what else do I need?” said Nawab Akram, an Indian pilgrim.

But Rizwan Zaidi was not convinced.

“The service is good but suppose I go to Makkah and got stuck up in traffic then naturally I will need my food there,” he said. “So they should give it on a daily basis.”

Apart from supplying food, the establishment made a clear plan for stoning the Jamrat and displayed it through banners at many places in all the tents. A banner showed the schedule for groups of 100 to 150 pilgrims to go to stone the pillars under a group leader.

The establishment had requested foreign Haj missions to provide staff to assist pilgrims in performing the stoning ritual. In response, the Indian mission provided them with 25 support personnel.

“We divided pilgrims into several groups and they moved toward Jamrat at separate timings,” said Hashim.

He said this ritual was a sensitive issue and hence people could only be persuaded to do it within the allotted time.

“They cannot be forced to do so,” he added.

Hashim said in recent years pilgrims were becoming more about Haj rituals and were less rigid making things easier and safer for them.

Talking about complaints by some pilgrims against some muallims, Hashim said they had not received any serious complaints. He added whenever they get a complaint, it is investigated and stringent action is taken against the erring muallims.

On Sunday, the establishment hosted party for journalists covering Haj and thanked them for their support and encouragement. The establishment’s chairman Adnan Katib gave away mementoes to media men.

Speaking on the occasion Katib said: “Our effort is to serve the pilgrims in an exemplary manner to let the world know about our hospitality. I thank the government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah for taking personal care and interest in the service of the guests of Allah.”