The City Administration will back to dispatch mosque caretakers or locally known as marbot running a free umrah in the end of the year. This time, the number increased compared with the previous year. For now, the participants are being selected.

This year, there is still a program for departing mosque caretakers to run umrah

Head of Mental and Spiritual Education Bureau, Ahmad Gozali stated this year the number of caretakers on free umrah increased by 10 persons. Last year, its number was about 30 persons.

" This year, there is still a program for departing mosque caretakers to run umrah ," he stated, Saturday (8/8).

As planned, the free umrah will be held in November or early December. Currently, the bureau and the Indonesian Mosque Council (DMI) are still selecting the caretakers from 5 areas.

The selected caretakers of each area are given the same chance to depart for umrah. They have to meet requirements, including be able to recite, memorize surah(s) contained of Al-Quran and used to be a prayer priest.

"But the old caretakers and haven't gone for umrah are prioritized. Mr. Governor said for Hajj must be waiting for 20 years, it's better to go for umrah first, instead of waiting too long," he expressed.

The allocated budget for such program is including in grant of the government to DMI. "The city gave grant amounted to Rp 10-Rp 11 billion to DMI. But the grant is not only used for umrah, but also for the caretakers' salary, DMI activities, etc,"

The program has been started since 2014 ago. In previous years, the city only gave facility of salary to caretakers amounted to Rp 200,000 per month.