The sudden airfare hike of ₹10,000 per pilgrim announced in late April sparked a wider debate on what India's Haj pilgrims were actually paying for. One item that came under immediate scrutiny was a deduction for a GPS-enabled smartwatch that each of the 1.2 lakh pilgrims had been mandated to carry. The 'Haj Suvidha Smartwatch' is a required safety device for Indian pilgrims this year, implemented by the Haj Committee of India with a focus on pilgrim safety. However, the decision has triggered questions over cost, execution, and necessity.
Cost and Procurement Details
The pre-bid estimate per piece was around ₹7,000, but the final price was ₹5,110, according to Kausar Jahan, chairperson of the Delhi Haj Committee. The watch, procured by the Haj Committee of India and supplied by Sekyo, a Delhi-based firm, is positioned as a safety measure and is a first-of-its-kind tracking initiative unmatched by any other major Haj-sending nation.
Pilgrims Report Issues
Pilgrims who have since departed say the devices are “not turning on”, “not holding charge”, and not “actually tracking” anyone. Sekyo told TOI that the watches are fully tested, functioning, and delivering 1–2 days of backup despite continuous health monitoring and live location transmission on international roaming. The company also stated that no hardware replacement cases have been reported.
“Since many pilgrims are elderly, less educated, and not technically proficient, the watch is intentionally designed with restricted features during the Haj season. They simply need to charge and wear it regularly,” the company said.
Inclusion in Haj Kit
According to members of the Delhi State Haj Committee, the smartwatch is included in the Haj kit distributed to pilgrims before departure. A committee member explained, “Every year, some changes are made. The departure kit typically contains passport stickers, luggage tags, boarding passes, ID cards, and now, for the first time, a GPS-enabled watch.”
Global Context
Haj is one of the world’s largest religious gatherings, with millions congregating in and around Mecca. Managing crowds, preventing stampedes, and ensuring no pilgrim is lost are longstanding challenges. This year, 1.7–1.9 million people are expected to participate. Unlike India, other major Haj-sending countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, and Pakistan rely on traditional group management systems and mobile-based coordination.
Early Feedback and Challenges
Early feedback from pilgrims suggests that the rollout of the smartwatch, designed to help track Indian pilgrims in real time and provide emergency assistance, has been far from smooth. Usman Ansari, a pilgrim from Old Delhi, told TOI that many travellers—particularly elderly and less tech-savvy individuals—are struggling to use the device. “They told us the watch would be activated in Saudi Arabia, but most people don’t know how to operate it. Around 70% were not able to use it,” he said.
Sekyo responded, “We have provided multilingual user manuals and multilingual support videos in English and Hindi, actively shown across all 17 embarkation points. Sekyo and Haj Committee representatives are working tirelessly across India as well as Saudi Arabia to support pilgrims.”
