Uzbekistan is developing its social protection system.
The "Uzbekistan - 2030" strategy, adopted by the President's Decree on September 11, 2023, includes 100 important goals across five priority areas:
- Becoming one of the states with above-average income through sustainable economic development.
- Establishing an education, healthcare, and social protection system fully meeting the needs of the people and international standards.
- Creating favorable environmental conditions for the population.
- Building a fair and modern state that serves the people.
- Ensuring the sovereignty and security of the country.
At an expanded meeting of the Republican Council for Spirituality and Enlightenment in December 2023, the President noted that the highest amount of funds - 134 trillion sum - was allocated to the social sphere last year, which is 5.6 times more than in 2016. Particularly noteworthy is the attention given by the state to lonely elderly people and persons with disabilities.
It is remarkable that Uzbekistan has established the State Fund for Social Protection of the National Agency for Social Protection under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the funds of which are allocated in several directions:
- Provision of social services in nursing homes "Muruvvat" and "Sahovat," sanatoriums, and boarding houses for the elderly, persons with disabilities, war and labor veterans.
- Provision of prosthetic-orthopedic products and rehabilitation technical aids to the population.
- Provision of preferential and free stationary treatment for persons with disabilities.
- Provision of educational, didactic, and other alternative materials for persons with disabilities.
- Housing provision for orphaned children.
- Organization and improvement of activities in "Mekhribonlik" houses and children's homes.
- Financing of services for providing socio-legal assistance to minors.
Additionally, according to the President's decree "On further improving the system of providing social services and assistance to the population" dated September 28, 2023, a new system of providing social assistance by the staff of the "Inson" Social Services Centers of the National Agency for Social Protection has been introduced on an experimental basis in 28 districts (cities) since October 15 of the previous year. The staff is responsible for maintaining records and a register of lonely elderly people and persons with disabilities in need of care, which helps develop a plan for providing individual social services by assessing the degree of need for outside assistance. Moreover, assistance to lonely elderly people included in the Unified Social Protection Registry will be provided based on a contract.
By the President's decree of December 27, 2023, monthly financial assistance in the amount of minimum consumer expenses has been established for lonely elderly people and persons with disabilities. The document also provides for the allocation of free railway or intercity bus tickets (round trip) once a year to persons included in the registry and their escorts.
Starting from April 1, 2024, individuals included in the registry will have the opportunity for short- and long-term stays in social support centers in the Samarkand and Fergana regions and in the city of Tashkent with the right to receive social and rehabilitation services.
Among the countries that have already transitioned to the model of a welfare state, Scandinavian countries, Finland, the Netherlands, Canada, Switzerland, Germany, and Belgium can be highlighted. In general, the involvement of representatives from all layers of society in the process is needed not only to provide assistance and uphold the rights of those who are already in difficult situations but also to promote better understanding, interaction, and cohesion among people. After all, as our ancestors said, united we thrive.
Nonna Safarova,
Employee of the National Human Rights Center of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
