The India Fraternity Forum (IFF) has been very active in serving Haj pilgrims since it started the Haj volunteer service more than a decade ago. It all began with an idea of how best to serve pilgrims.
Few of those who were spending Haj holidays in the Kingdom joined forces to serve the pilgrims, and the first group consisted of a few dozen of these volunteers, but as years progressed the numbers of volunteers grew along with a number of improvement in the modus operandi and the quality of the service.
During last Haj, IFF fielded more than 1,000 volunteers for the service of pilgrims.
Safety & Health Awareness classes in India: IFF has striven to improve the quality of service and expanded the area of service operation. For the last few years, the service of IFF starts with conducting of classes, educating the pilgrims on performing the rituals of Haj in a safe and healthy environment through awareness sessions at various locations in different states in India. Apart from conducting the awareness classes, IFF has prepared a Haj guide that provides details about health and safety tips to help perform the Haj rituals safely.
Receiving the pilgrims on arrival: Next phase of volunteer service starts with the arrival of Indian pilgrims in Madinah. IFF volunteers receive them at the airports and help them to identify their luggage, as all of them look identical and in same shape. IFF volunteers also assist the pilgrims to reach their accommodation building during their stay in Makkah, Madinah and Aziziyah. This service will continue till they leave the Kingdom after performing Haj.
The service in Makkah near Masjidul Haram premises is remarkable and was appreciated by the Indian Haj Mission and other authorities. Volunteers work round the clock in the Haram premises and Aziziyah guiding Hajis to their locations. Volunteers also distribute drinking water and slippers to the pilgrims.
Service Highlights – Mina & Arafat: Serving the pilgrims during the busiest days (7-13 of Dhul Hijja) in Mina is another major part and last year IFF had engaged 950 volunteers for this job. On the day of Arafat (9 Dhul Hijja) around 200 volunteers were engaged in Arafat and Muzdalifah. The volunteers are given all necessary training and Arafat Map about locating the tents and to help lost or stranded pilgrims.
Map of Mina – developed by IFF: Few years ago, IFF developed a map for Mina with grid lines that enables a pilgrim or a volunteer to reach any location easily and correctly. IFF makes use of the numbering system for the roads, streets and correlates them with the numbers on the high mast poles making it easy to find the exact location of the tents in Mina, which has proven to be a great relief for the pilgrims, who are often lost and stranded. The updated Map of Mina for 2016, included the tent locations for the pilgrims under the Mutawwif organizations of South Asian countries, South East Asian countries, African Non-Arab countries, Turkey & European Muslims.
Mina Tent Locator App 2015: Considering the widespread usage of Android phones and access to Internet, IFF has developed an app for the Haj Service 2015, which would easily and precisely guide the pilgrims to their tents in Mina. This android-based app. (Mina Tent Locator) is quite simple and easy to use and requires Internet connectivity only when it is downloaded for the first time.
Haj Navigator App. 2016 – For Makkah, Mina & Aziziyah: Taking yet another leap ahead to serve the Haj pilgrims, IFF launched an app, “Haj Navigator” which would easily and precisely guide the Haj pilgrims to reach their destination(s) in Mina, Makkah and Aziziyah. This app is supported by the Google map and based on the data of roads and streets of Mina, building details of Indian pilgrim accommodation, hotels, hospitals & medical facilities in Makkah and Aziziyah. When the pilgrim or a Haj service volunteer provides the data (of his location and his destination) in the app, he/she would find the route and distance with an approximate time to reach the destination immediately. If a pilgrim does not know his location he can select “my location” using the GPS, then provide his destination, which would mark the route to reach the destination together with the distance and time to destination. Once downloaded from Google Play store and installed in the mobile phone, the app does not require Internet for finding the details. Both these applications have been developed by Muhammed Mukhtar, an IFF member.
Dedication of IFF volunteers: IFF feels honored to serve the pilgrims from all over the world and thankfully remembers the support and cooperation of the Consulate of India, Haj Mission in Makkah and Madinah, Maraakiz Al Haya (Makkah) and Ministry of Health (MOH) and the selfless and sincere dedication of the volunteers.
IFF Haj service team is headed by Shamsuddheen (president of IFF) as the head of organizing the activities of the forum and Mudassir Nazer as the (coordinator) for the Haj service. Volunteer orientation is carried out by Mujeeb (volunteer captain) and Mohammed Sadiq (asst. volunteer captain). Besides, the forum has an efficient support team, which includes, logistics, training, media, medical, railway station, transportation and camp, that enabled a smooth and successful operation.
Source : http://saudigazette.com.sa/saudi-arabia/%e2%80%8fiff-holds-brilliant-record-serving-pilgrims-decade/
“Selfless volunteer service of India Fraternity Forum has been exemplary, as it was a timely and valuable step that benefited thousands of guests of Allah, during Haj,” said Indian Consul General Mohammed Noor Rahman Sheikh here.
He was addressing a get-together in the Impala Gardens Hall at the felicitation ceremony of the Haj service volunteers organized by India Fraternity Forum (IFF) in Jeddah.
“India Fraternity Forum has been in the forefront to extend support to the consulate to solve the issues faced by the Indian expatriates when they become unemployed after the companies terminate them or the employee resigns from a company. It is quite remarkable that beside carrying out their jobs and assignments as expatriates, these volunteers did find time to help and support their fellow beings when faced with hardships,” he added.
Mohammed Shahid Alam, deputy consul general and Haj consul, recalled that the diplomats from other countries were full of praisie for the professionalism and sincerity in the services of the IFF volunteers during Haj 2016. He added that during Haj, the comments of the diplomats about the dedicated services of the forum volunteers with social commitments gave him pride and joy in front of others.India Fraternity Forum Serving Haj pilgrims
Sheikh Mohammed Bazaid, manager, Marakiz-ul-Ahyaa, also appreciated the support of the India Consulate in enabling the forum to serve the guests of Allah during Haj 2016 and expressed that the Marakiz-ul-Ahyaa will be glad to expand the area of their services in cooperation with India Fraternity Forum.
The function was presided over by Shamsudheen Malappuram, regional president, IFF, and large number of dignitaries and office bearers of various cultural organizations like India Forum, Indian Pilgrims Welfare Forum (IPWF), Bhatkal Community, Indian Community of Jeddah, Haj Welfare Forum, Tamil Sangham, Khak-E-Taiba Trust, Saudi India Football Forum, MEPCO who had enriched the gathering with their esteemed presence.
Mohammed Siddiqui (volunteer captain, Marakiz-ul-Ahyaa), Hassan Mukhtar (supervisor blood bank, King Faisal specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Jeddah) also spoke on the occasion.India Fraternity Forum Serving Haj pilgrims
Sheikh Mohammed Bazaid (Marakiz-ul-Ahya) gave away the certificates to IFF Haj volunteers, which was duly received by Mujeeburahman Malappuram. Mubashir T.P, Shamsuddeen Kondotty, Musthafa Pamangadan, who all worked behind the scenes to make the function a grand success.
The function began with the recitation of verses from the Holy Qur’an by Muneer Omer and Muddasir (IFF Haj coordinator) welcomed the guests and the gathering and Mohammed Ali Koonthala (regional secretary IFF) conveyed the vote of thanks.
