Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) – About 12-15% of the population of Uzbekistan live below the poverty line, Akmalkhon ORTIKOV, First Deputy Minister of Economic Development and Poverty Reduction, said.

He noted that every country in the world has a poor population. The fact that a certain part of the population is poor and does not have sufficient income has long been a "closed topic" in Uzbekistan. This year, in his Address to the Oliy Majlis, the President openly raised this issue, and for the first time in our history, poverty reduction has been identified as a priority task. Preliminary estimates show that 12-15 percent of the population or 4-5 million people in the country live below the poverty line, the Information Service of the Ministry of Economic Development and Poverty Reduction reports.

With a particular focus on supporting job creation to increase incomes and reduce poverty, the Ministry of Economy and Industry was reorganized into the Ministry of Economic Development and Poverty Reduction.

In order to provide assistance to the most vulnerable segments of the population, comprehensive and regional programs have been developed and the responsibilities of ministers, khokims and sector leaders have been defined. However, the pandemic is wreaking havoc on job creation in many areas and in the fight against poverty. To mitigate its influence, a nationwide Kindness and Support movement was launched. Within the framework of this movement, according to the decisions of local councils of people’s deputies, more than 127 billion soums were allocated to about 321 thousand large families in need of social protection, lonely people and the disabled, as well as temporarily unemployed families who have lost their sources of income.

In May-June, working groups led by regional sector leaders took measures to create sources of income for about 233 thousand citizens from low-income families. The government has developed a "Temporary Procedure" for creating a source of income for families with unfavorable social and living conditions in connection with the coronavirus pandemic. According to him, specific procedures and plans for targeted work with families included in the “book of generosity” and their withdrawal from poverty were outlined.

In July-October this year, it is necessary to provide a source of income for about 257 thousand more needy able-bodied families. To this end, the leaders of 4 sectors with organizations of the economic complex will take measures to ensure employment through family entrepreneurship, handicrafts, involvement in public works and a system of self-employment. With an investment complex through the device into existing and new created enterprises. In the agrarian complex, with local enterprises by attracting profitable crops to planting on lands freed from grain crops. With construction companies, to ensure employment at facilities where construction and repair work is carried out at the expense of budgetary funds, as well as during the construction of housing under the new procedure of mortgage mechanisms. Of course, there is a strict system of control over the implementation of these measures.

Work on poverty reduction was also discussed at a video conference on June 8 this year, chaired by our President. The head of state noted the need to employ representatives of at least 257 thousand low-income families and provide loans to 37 thousand households within the framework of family entrepreneurship programs.

Action was taken against the leaders of the sectors with the lowest employment rates. In particular, the khokim of Fergana district, the prosecutor of Yakkabag district, the heads of the department of internal affairs of the Guzar and Chartak districts, the heads of the tax inspections of Mubarek district and the city of Kokand were dismissed from their posts. This, in turn, indicates that the leader needs to ensure the fulfillment of the assigned tasks, regardless of location and position.

If the implementation of measures to reduce poverty is our daily work, then we also face the task of developing and implementing concept papers on poverty reduction with the participation of experts from international financial institutions, including UNDP, the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank. In particular, a strategy and concept of poverty reduction in Uzbekistan until 2030 is being developed. It envisages the use of foreign best practices (in particular China) in poverty reduction through the concept of poverty, definition criteria and assessment methods, minimum standards for social security, education, health, housing and enterprise development.