Media Release

Jeddah, Nov 9: Hajj Volunteer Service is a three month process for India Fraternity Forum (IFF) every Hajj seaon. IFF service starts with the distribution of 'Hajj Handbook', which is handed out in six major Indian languages to the pilgrims before they leave for Hajj from the home country.

Here in Saudi Arabia the volunteers start their assistance with the arrival of the first flight in Jeddah, Madeena and Makkah as well.

In Makkah pilgrims are helped to reach their accommodation. The Inspirational experience of serving people during Hajj has increased the number of volunteers participating in the service.

IFF had to limit the number of volunteers due to constraints in accommodating them, this year 1050 volunteers served the purpose.

Volunteers were Indian expatriate from eleven states speaking major Indian languages. They include 100 volunteers from Dammam, 250 from Riyadh and 700 from Abha and Jeddah.

The airport authority of Jeddah has issued entry permit to Hajj Terminal for IFF volunteers to receive the pilgrims at their arrival and to facilitate the same service upon their departure as well.

For the first time in volunteer service IFF had 40 women volunteers in the field. They provided service to the female pilgrims in the tents, especially old pilgrims of above 70 years, whose number increased by 45 percent this year.

Mina service continues from Dhulhajj 7 to 13 late evening till the last Indian pilgrim leaves the Mina tents.

IFF is getting tremendous support from Consulate General of India and its affiliates like Indian Pilgrims Welfare Forum (IPWF). IPWF has been coordinating the volunteer service and this year IFF designed the map for the Mina operations as per the instructions of CG.

Consulate has printed and distributed more than 3, 000 copies of this map to guide the stranded pilgrims. IFF provides adequate training to all of its volunteers in different languages.

Unlike past, this year IFF volunteers were provided with accommodation by the Consulate. IPWF has been distributing bottled water for the pilgrims while returning from Haram and they worked hard to guide the pilgrims and to give awareness on performing Hajj.

Volunteers guide the Indian pilgrims to their accommodation in Aziziah and help them by providing financial support and arrange re-imbursement of the amount, if there a loss of money.

The Saudi Government is improving the facilities for Hajj in order to assist the pilgrims and make their pilgrimage comfortable one.

The growing number of old aged pilgrims has made the volunteer service an imperative and more organized one.

IFF has formed special teams for Tent service, Field Service, Medical assistance, Logistics, Crisis Management and Public Relations for their Hajj service operations in Mina.

Entire Hajj service operation of the Forum is supervised by Mohammed Ashraf Morayur (Coordinator), Basheer P K (Asst. Coordinator), E M Abdullah (Training & Operation), Shamsuddin K M (Technical), Siraj (Logistics), and regional coordinators - Al Aman Ahmed (Tamil Nadu), Moideen, Hussein (Karnataka), Mujahid (Northern States).