Overwhelming response to Hajj Committee UPSC coaching center

Thursday, August 27, 2009 03:46:55 PM, ummid.com Staff Reporter

Mumbai: The Hajj Committee officials in Mumbai received a timely shot in their arms when the proposed IAS & Allied Services Coaching & Guidance cell to be established by them attracted overwhelming response from the Muslim students aspiring for the civil services posts.

"Let me admit that the overwhelming response we have received is beyond our expectations", said a beaming Mohd. Owais - Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Hajj Committee of India while speaking to ummid.com.

"We have received about sixty applications from all across the country to this date, a number that clearly exceeds our quota of 50 students", he said.

"Interestingly, of the sixty applications that we have received so far 25 are from the girl students", he added.

The Hajj Committee of Mumbai in a press release on August 08 this year had proposed to provide coaching facilities to 50 Muslim students and had sought applications from eligible candidates on or before October 15, 2009. However almost one and half month before the deadline, the Hajj Committee Mumbai office has received applications that exceeds its capacity.

Though the Hajj Committee has received some applications from Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal, the maximum number of applications received are from Maharashtra. The areas in Maharashtra from where the future IAS/IPS/IFS of the country have applied to the IAS & Allied Services Coaching & Guidance cell of the Hajj Committee of India include Mumbai, Bhiwandi, Aurangabad, Malegaon and Jalgaon, informed CEO Mohd. Owais.

When asked, owing to the overwhelming response the Hajj Committee has received do they plan increasing the quota, CEO Mohd. Owais said, "We have the provision and available infrastructure to accommodate more students and I will propose to the Hajj Committee if they can increase the number of students from existing 50 to 75. But our top priority is quality. Not the number. The students have to perform well in the entrance test if they want the Hajj Committee to consider increasing the strength."

The plush Hajj House in Mumbai located near the Chatrapati Shivaji Railway Terminus  (CST) formerly known as VT Station would be accommodating these students for the training once they clear the entrance test. The IAS & Allied Services Coaching & Guidance cell which is expected to begin academic activities November first week would be managed by the Hajj Committee of India.

"The students who are applying for the coaching would have to undergo an admission test slated on November 01, 2009 to make their admissions confirmed in the final list. The test would be conducted by the Hajj Committee and coordinated by the experts. The Hajj Committee is fully ready to commence the academic activities immediately thereafter", said CEO Mohd Owais.

About the preparations and arrangements he said, "The ground floor of the Hajj House has already been converted into a library and four other floors of the Hajj House would be reserved for the classes, lodging and other centre requirements."

Though the Hajj Committee has decided to charge a meager monthly fee of 2000 rupees per month from every student, total discount and special scholarships are also being considered for the eligible students belonging to Below Poverty Line (BPL) families.

The fees that the Hajj Committee would be taking from the students would include the tuition fees, lodging and meals during the entire course, said Mohd. Owais, the CEO.

For actual academic activities, the Hajj Committee has appointed S. A. M. Hashmi - former principal Akbar Peerbhoy College, Mumbai known for his vast experience in competitive exams as Director. Hashmi is assisting the Hajj Committee in finalising the list of the faculties and resource persons to handle the training sessions.

The Hajj Committee’s decision to start the training centre for the civil services exams has its roots in the growing concern over the inappropriate percentage of the Muslim community in the coveted IAS, IPS, IFS and other cadres that became manifold after the release of the Sachar Committee report in 2006.

Link: http://www.hajcommittee.com

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