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. — SG
