Mumbai: For more than half a century, they have been a constant presence at the Mumbai international airport for a month every year, when it hosts thousands of people making the once-in-a-lifetime pilgrimage to Mecca. Yet, like their fathers and mothers before them, a number of middle-aged men and women have been ensuring that the departure and arrival home of pilgrims go off without a hitch.
Javed Shaikh (48), whose father Mehboob Shaikh founded the Haj Pilgrims Social Workers Group 52 years ago, generally makes his way to the airport after wrapping up work at his export firm by early evening.
At the airport, Javed’s task is to assists pilgrims till the immigration counters and ensure they board flights to Jeddah. “A majority of pilgrims are first-time flyers… We volunteers make sure that everyone stays in a group and have travel documents ready. We help them collect boarding passes, clear immigration, direct them to the prayer room and board flights.”
With flights to and from Jeddah commencing 10 pm onwards, Javed and his fellow volunteers spend the whole night running around. Nearly 50 men and women have volunteered this year. “Each of us has been granted different levels of clearances. Some volunteers cannot go past the departure and arrival gates, some can stay only within the airline check-in counters, and only six can stay with passengers till they take off,” said Javed.
21/09/18 Srinath Rao/Indian Express
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Javed Shaikh (48), whose father Mehboob Shaikh founded the Haj Pilgrims Social Workers Group 52 years ago, generally makes his way to the airport after wrapping up work at his export firm by early evening.
At the airport, Javed’s task is to assists pilgrims till the immigration counters and ensure they board flights to Jeddah. “A majority of pilgrims are first-time flyers… We volunteers make sure that everyone stays in a group and have travel documents ready. We help them collect boarding passes, clear immigration, direct them to the prayer room and board flights.”
With flights to and from Jeddah commencing 10 pm onwards, Javed and his fellow volunteers spend the whole night running around. Nearly 50 men and women have volunteered this year. “Each of us has been granted different levels of clearances. Some volunteers cannot go past the departure and arrival gates, some can stay only within the airline check-in counters, and only six can stay with passengers till they take off,” said Javed.
21/09/18 Srinath Rao/Indian Express
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