Male Guardian requirement for Women attending Hajj stopped

According to Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, Saudi Arabia, women can now register for annual Hajj pilgrimage without male guardian (marham).

Key Points

• In registration guidelines of Hajj for domestic pilgrims, ministry highlights, women do not need require a male guardian to register, and could do registration along with other women.
• Women wishing to perform Hajj will have to register individually.

Background

India had announced same rule in 2017 when Modi government declared that women could go on Haj without a male companion. Muslim women were exempted from mahram and also from lottery system.

Data on number of Hajj

Following the rule of 2017, number of women who performed Hajj without mahram was 1,171 in 2018 which increased to 2,230 in 2019. Pilgrimage was stopped in 2020 because of rising number of coronavirus cases.

How Indian Government is working to empower Muslim Women?

There are several factors suggesting central governments’ efforts towards empowerment of women. On August 22, 2017 triple talaq was abolished putting gender equality as the first place. In 2018, Hajj subsidy was abolished following which in 2019, two lakh Indian Muslims had performed Hajj without subsidy. Removal of Hajj subsidy has helped in saving Rs 700 crore. This money was used to empower women from minority communities by educating them. This effort has resulted into reduction of dropout rate among girls has to 30 per cent from 70 per cent.

The Hajj

It is an annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, which is considered as holiest city for Muslims. Hajj is a mandatory religious duty for Muslims which is must to carry at least once in their lifetime by all adult Muslims.

Month: Current Affairs - July, 2021