Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- Whether our reforms will find their reflection in the daily life of the people, whether we will achieve the set goals, this largely depends on the effectiveness of the public administration system. This was stated by the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev during his message to the parliament.

Next year in this direction it is necessary to fulfill the following tasks.

First, it requires a radical improvement in the activities of government bodies.

In many ministries and departments, the decision-making process is overly centralized. Duplication of functions is often observed, since they are not clearly spelled out and in full.

Along with this, some deputy ministers, middle managers do not dare to take responsibility, to show initiative.

Why it happens? They lack knowledge, skills and a sense of responsibility, or they are corrupt.

Unfortunately, these leaders, instead of dealing with the pressing problems that people expect of them, are busy with useless paperwork and ineffective meetings.

Another serious drawback is that no measures are taken to optimize the number of employees, as well as work processes through the widespread introduction of digital technologies.

In this regard, the Government should, within two months, prepare draft regulations aimed at reducing duplicate departments, functions and bureaucratic barriers in management. It is necessary to provide for the optimization of the number of employees in the public administration system on average up to 15 percent.

By the end of next year, it is necessary to increase the number of types of state electronic services by 60, bringing them to 300, and the share of remote services - to at least 60 percent.

Secondly, the responsibility and accountability of state bodies in solving problems on the ground will be strengthened.

From the beginning of next year, each ministry must plan and organize its work in the context of the region, city, village and mahalla. The performance of ministers and their deputies will be assessed on the basis of what real changes have taken place on the ground.

Deputy Prime Ministers and Ministers will be responsible for training managers and employees of their systems to work effectively on the basis of new requirements and modern information technologies, as well as for continuous improvement of their qualifications.

I urge deputies and senators to regularly monitor how problems are resolved in their constituencies by the relevant ministries and khokimiyats.

One more question - I want to emphasize that in order to improve the efficiency of management of the district, city and makhallas, the number of employees and the size of their salaries should be determined taking into account the specifics of the region and the volume of work. For example, more than 150 thousand people live in Pakhtachi district of Samarkand region, more than 500 thousand people in Urgut district. Or, the population of Shaykhantakhur district of Tashkent is about 350 thousand, and Bektemir district is 46 thousand. But the number and salary of management personnel in these areas are almost the same.

The government must, within two months, submit a draft decree on a radical improvement in the activities of middle and lower-level management bodies, revising the number of employees and conditions of remuneration.

Thirdly, it is necessary to further improve the institutional foundations of local executive and representative authorities, as well as makhallas.

Khokimiyats and Kengashs operate on the basis of a law passed 27 years ago, when the institution of khokimiyat was introduced. Considering that this document no longer meets the requirements of today’s reforms, it should be completely updated.

The results of our reforms, the ongoing changes and the mood of the population are primarily manifested in the mahalla. In this sense, I think it would be correct to say that makhalla is a mirror of our society and life values. That is why leaders of all levels must study problems, as they say, from below, in makhallas, find their solutions, carry out such changes that people will feel on themselves. Henceforth, the state of affairs in the makhalla will be the main criterion in assessing the work of ministries, departments and khokimiyats.

It is also necessary to develop a program to increase the authority of the mahalla, increase its resources and capabilities, and increase the material security of its employees.

This year, we began to introduce the practice of directing at least 10 percent of the overfulfilled part of regional budgets directly to solving problems in makhallas, in total 70 billion soums were allocated for this. Now this practice will expand: mahallas will also receive 5 percent of the expenditure side of the district budget. As a result, for example, in Gijduvan district alone, 8 billion soums, and in the city of Ferghana, 11 billion soums will be directed to solving problems that the population considers the most urgent.

Granting the chairmen of the makhalla the right to include in the agenda of meetings of local Kengashes issues that must be considered will make it possible to achieve prompt resolution of problems.

A system will be created for the promotion of qualified and proactive personnel working in the mahalla to leading positions in government agencies.

The Legislative Chamber and the Senate, together with the Cabinet of Ministers, by 1 April 2021, need to develop draft new laws aimed at radically improving the activities of executive bodies, local representative bodies and the institution of mahalla. These documents should clearly delineate the powers, tasks and functions of khokims, their deputies and advisers.

Fourthly, intolerance towards any manifestation of corruption should become an integral part of our daily life.

All state bodies, political parties, public organizations, mass media, every citizen must mobilize to fight this evil.

We need to instill in children from an early age the understanding that corruption is a very serious crime, foster intransigence towards it, teach honest work and conscientious entrepreneurship.

It is imperative to prevent corruption and ensure transparency in decision-making processes in all government bodies. So, this year our citizens have had the opportunity to get acquainted with the data on public procurement and, on this basis, raise relevant questions.

The Ministry of Finance is instructed, within three months, to establish the practice of publishing information on revenues and expenditures of off-budget funds of state bodies, procurements of organizations with state participation, as well as data on state subsidies and grants.

The fact that over the past two years the courts have overturned about 2.5 thousand decisions of khokims indicates the need to ensure transparency in the process of making such decisions. An electronic information system will be introduced to record and publish decisions of local government bodies.

Agency for Combating Corruption - within a month to submit a proposal to expand the list of open data.

One of the most effective means of fighting corruption is the creation of an open system for the selection and recruitment of personnel. Therefore, instead of outdated selection methods, an open and transparent competitive system will be introduced, which will make it possible to assess the intellectual potential of candidates. A system of regular training and assessment of the knowledge of civil servants in the field of corruption prevention will also be created.

Fifth, in order for every person in the country to experience the results of our reforms through the example of his own life, it is necessary to ensure the timely and effective implementation of the adopted documents.

Over the past 4 years, 150 laws have been adopted, about 2 thousand decrees and resolutions aimed at implementing large-scale transformations in all areas. But it cannot be said that all local leaders understand the essence and meaning of these documents, use the opportunities provided, and create the necessary conditions for the population and entrepreneurs.

The current control system is rather formal in nature and is not focused on identifying and solving problems in the execution of regulatory legal acts. Therefore, next year a new system of work in this area will be introduced.

From now on, communicating to the public, clarifying the essence of the adopted documents, assisting in their implementation and monitoring their implementation will be the main task of the Ministry of Justice, its territorial departments and divisions. For this, the Ministry of Justice is provided with the necessary powers and resources.

Also, broad public control over the implementation of the adopted documents will be established. In particular, it is planned to introduce a system of public hearings and public monitoring with the active involvement of civil society institutions, the media and citizens themselves in this process.

In addition, redundant tasks and functions that hinder execution will be reduced based on appropriate analysis. In regional, district and city Kengashes of people’s deputies, and at the republican level - in the Cabinet of Ministers, the practice of monthly critical discussion of the quality and status of the implementation of regulations in government bodies is being introduced.

The government is instructed to determine the necessary measures for the implementation of this system within a month, together with the Ministry of Justice, the Civil Service Development Agency and the Academy of Public Administration.

The Minister of Justice (R. Davletov) - to introduce a system to inform the population about the essence and results of the reforms, by organizing speeches and broadcasts in all media, including on television, preparing television programs on the topic "President’s Decisions - Execution and Control".

Sixth, one of the priorities of our reforms is to further enhance the role of women in state and public administration.

As you know, at present, the responsible departments, banks and khokimiyats under the leadership of the Federation of Trade Unions are thoroughly studying the problems of more than 6 million women through home visits. Unfortunately, we must acknowledge that these events have revealed for the first time the true state of affairs on the ground. Now, on the basis of the results of this study, “women’s notebooks” are being formed, and a search for practical solutions to many socio-economic problems of concern to women is under way. The newly created advisory councils of women in makhallas directly help in this.

We are well aware that this is only the beginning of work to address the challenges we face in this direction.

We must do our best to create decent living conditions for over 17 million women living in the country - our daughters, mothers, grandmothers.

No one can understand the everyday problems and concerns of women better than themselves.

As a result of the reforms carried out to strengthen the role of women in public administration, today they make up 30 percent of deputies and senators in parliament. In regional, city and district khokimiyats, the post of adviser to the khokim on women’s issues has been introduced.

As the next step in enhancing the role and status of women in society, creating new opportunities for them, I propose to form a Republican Public Women’s Council, which will include active and proactive women who have life experience and are well aware of women’s problems.

I think all of you will support me if I propose to head this council to the Chairman of the Senate Tanzila Kamalovna Narbaeva, who has extensive experience in this area.

It would be logical if the activities of local women’s councils would be led by khokim advisers on women’s issues.

I consider it expedient to transfer republican and regional funds to support women to the councils being formed.

More than 1 trillion soums will be additionally allocated from the budget to support women’s business projects and to solve the problems of women identified on the ground. To this end, the People’s Bank will introduce a new system of training women in entrepreneurship, developing standard business plans for them and providing practical assistance in obtaining loans.

The Oliy Majlis and the Government - within a month, develop a proposal for the creation of an integral system aimed at further strengthening the role of women in society and public administration.

Another important issue is the comprehensive support of the older generation. This is our direct duty and obligation.

To provide assistance to the elderly on a permanent basis, the financial capabilities of the Republican Fund "Nuroniy" will be expanded. For these purposes, 100 billion soums will be allocated to the fund next year.

The volume of funds allocated for material assistance and the organization of meaningful leisure for more than 16 thousand veterans in need of outside care will increase, the range of social services provided to them will be expanded. In addition, more than 25 thousand veterans will be able to improve their health in new sanatoriums in Bukhara, Karshi and Urgench, as well as in existing medical and preventive institutions.

It would be advisable to enrich the content and increase the number of TV programs "Otalar Suzi - Aklning Kuzi", as well as organize new programs "Nuroniylar Maslahati", "Mahallada Gurung" on central TV channels dedicated to the older generation.

Seventh, we will continue to support non-governmental non-profit organizations and the media in the development of a free civil society.

The activities of the Public Fund for Support of Non-Governmental Non-Commercial Organizations and other civil society institutions should be focused on solving urgent problems on the ground.

In particular, non-governmental non-profit organizations will be widely involved, on the basis of a social order, in identifying existing problems at the local level, in deep analysis, in developing proposals for solving and ensuring public control over their implementation. Such interaction should be widely implemented primarily in such spheres as education, culture, medicine, ecology, construction, cadastral registration, transport, utilities, employment, and social services. Next year, 60 billion soums will be allocated from the budget to organize this work.

I also propose to create an institute of a permanent representative of non-governmental non-profit organizations in the Legislative Chamber. I believe that he should be empowered to participate in meetings of the lower house of parliament, to make proposals on how the issues of effective public control and social partnership should be reflected in the adopted laws.

I would like to draw your attention to the following important issue. It should be especially noted that the media, along with objective coverage of large-scale changes taking place in our country, draw the attention of government departments and the public to urgent problems on the ground and encourage leaders at all levels to solve these problems. Today they are increasingly becoming the "fourth estate".

Of course, sharp and critical materials do not like many local officials and violate their calm and carefree existence. But glasnost and freedom of speech are a demand of the times, a demand for reforms in Uzbekistan.

Over the past four years, we have been learning to live and work in the atmosphere of transparency and openness, freedom of speech, created in our society. Fair criticism of objective journalists and bloggers points out the mistakes and shortcomings of the old-fashioned leaders, forcing them to change their style of work and increase their responsibility.

From now on, every state body must establish a constant dialogue and cooperation with the media in its daily activities. Our confident steps towards the liberalization of legislation in this area are evidenced by the recent exclusion from the Criminal Code of the norms that provided for the punishment of imprisonment for libel and insult in the media.

Next year, the legal foundations for ensuring freedom of speech, comprehensive development of the media, and free activities of journalists and bloggers will be further strengthened.

At a time when our country was just beginning to reach a new level of development, in order to provide wide support and protection of the media, the creation and assistance of information services of state bodies, the Agency for Information and Mass Communications was established. In order to bring the reform in the information sphere to a new level, ensure its further development, all-round support for the independent activities of the media, I consider it necessary to critically review the activities of the agency.