New Delhi:Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Wednesday said that the Centre in 2016 spent Rs 405 crore as subsidy for the Haj pilgrims.


"As per directions of the Supreme Court to progressively reduce Haj subsidy so as to completely eliminate it within a period of 10 years, Haj subsidy has been gradually reduced from Rs 836.56 crore in 2012-13 to Rs 405 crore (approx) in the year 2016-17 and various aspects linked to it are determined and implemented," the minister told the Lok Sabha.


"The total amount charged from each Pilgrim varies depending on the category of accommodation and the amount of airport charges for the embarkation point plus the fixed amount deposited towards airfare. For Haj 2016, the total amount for Azizia category was Rs 1,85,000 (approx) and for Green Category was Rs 2,19,000 (approx)," Naqvi said in a written reply.

In the 2014, the subsidy was Rs 577.07 crore and in the following year it was reduced to Rs 529.51 crore, he said.IANS