From this year, Haj draws will go online

But delay in software distribution has cast a shadow over new lottery

With an aim to end irregularities, the Haj Committee of India has for the first time computerised the process of qurrah (draw of lots), enabling lakhs of Haj pilgrims to learn about their selection online.

“We want to make the process smooth and corruption free. That’s why we’ve opted for computerisation,” said Hasan Ahmed, Vice-President of the Central Haj Committee on Tuesday. The Haj Committee of India has already sent the software to 30 state committees.

According to Haj officials, the system would randomly select pilgrims from a list of applicants and prepare the

waiting list at the same time. The state Haj houses have been directed to send the list of pilgrims, both selected and in waiting list, on the same day. This data would finally be confirmed and uploaded on the website of the Haj Committee.

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“I am happy that the draw has been computerised. Last time, it took me an entire day to learn about the result,” said Dr Yameen (56), one of the 50,000 applicants from Delhi this year.

However, the delay in distributing the software to some of the committees has cast a doubt as to whether computerised draws could be conducted from this year itself. For instance, the Delhi Haj Committee received the software only a few days back. “I am not sure whether we will be able to shift to the new software. In that case we are left with only one option, to continue with manual lottery,” said Parvez Mian, Chairman of the Delhi Haj committee.