MAKKAH — The Grand Mosque Wheelchair Directorate arrested 3,022 people during the month of Ramadan for offering wheelchair rides in the Grand Mosque without the permission of the directorate, Al-Madinah reported. The directorate's Director Misleh Al-Mihmadi said 302 employees —102 officials, 200 part-timers — are available to serve the pilgrims and worshippers at the Grand Mosque. “We provide 12,000 free wheelchairs for the elderly and the handicapped. We also provide 50 electronic wheelchairs in addition to other new wheelchairs which have been provided by the General Presidency of the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques,” said Al-Mihmadi. He added in addition to the free wheelchairs there are also 512 wheelchairs for rent. “The wheelchairs for rent are manned by Saudis who are licensed by the directorate to rent these wheelchairs. The directorate has also set a nominal and unified price for renting wheelchairs. Those who provide this service do not have the authority to set their own prices,” said Al-Mihmadi. He added the total of individuals licensed to man wheelchairs in the Grand Mosque are 3,050 people. “The manual wheelchairs must be wheeled by the sitting person as the directorate does not provide people to push the wheelchairs for them. The electronic wheelchairs are for those who are unable to wheel their chairs with their own arms,” said Al-Mihmadi. He added the people manning the wheelchairs work in three shifts throughout the day to ensure that there is always someone present to serve the pilgrims. “One of the biggest problems we face is pilgrims not returning the wheelchairs from where they take it. Pilgrims just leave the wheelchair wherever they find it convenient once they finish their worship. The pilgrims mostly leave them by the gates, outside or by the parking areas near the mosque,” said Al-Mihmadi. He added this problem is costing them a lot as many wheelchairs go missing and the ones found are damaged.
