Unscrupulous persons exploit free wheelchairs for disabled pilgrims

(MENAFN-Arab News) An opportunity to make a quick buck is too tempting for some people. Exploitation of Umrah pilgrims, particularly first timers, needing wheelchairs are easy prey for such people who demand up to SR400 with a pusher and SR100 to SR150 for just the wheelchair depending on its condition

The unfortunate part is that the government provides wheelchairs free of cost to old or disabled pilgrims, but most of them are unaware that it comes free of charge. Besides, many pious people donate wheelchairs as charity for the pilgrims

The Ministry of Haj is responsible for curbing such malpractices to ensure that pilgrims perform Umrah without any problem. According to official estimates, 750,000 pilgrims have already performed Umrah in just one month, a record compared to last year. The figure is expected to touch over six million by the end of the season

People exploiting the situation are also taking advantage of the Haram expansion works because of which cars and taxis are stopped some distance away from the main Haram mosque, forcing the pilgrims to walk relatively longer distance

“I am an old man. Earlier, taxis or cars used to drop me near the mosque, but now it’s become very difficult for me to walk all the way as it is almost quarter of a kilometer or more. It is difficult for persons like me to walk, and I need someone to take me on a wheelchair, which I can’t afford. And the government office for wheelchairs is very far,” Kaleem Alam, a pilgrim said.

Local pilgrims who are regular visitors to Makkah who know that free wheelchairs can be obtained from the government office also complained that it‘s not easy to get a free wheelchair and they are forced to hire one at the high price

“My wife went to pick up a wheelchair from the government office. I have been suffering from back problem for the last 14 years. The man at the counter asked my wife to bring me to the office so he could see and decide if I needed a wheelchair. My wife made me sit somewhere before getting the wheelchair, but due to the heavy demand at the wheelchair office, I had to walk all the way,” said Ahmed Saadudeen.

He said: “The wheelchair office person looked at me and refused to give me one and asked me to look around for an abandoned wheelchair.

“I was surprised how the man could decipher if I had a back problem just looking at me. There were many people lined up for free wheelchairs but he was not giving them any. He was also harsh with them saying people don’t return the wheelchairs after use,” he said.