President assigns new role to Shahnaza Mirziyoyeva

“Let everyone hear this: from now on, people with limited income opportunities and disabilities will not be included in the poverty registry. Supporting them is the responsibility of the state,” President Shavkat Mirziyoyev said during a video conference on November 19 reviewing poverty reduction and employment efforts, and outlining priority tasks for the coming year.

The meeting emphasized the importance of implementing the “Equal Opportunity – Inclusive Employment” project from the new year, which aims to provide jobs for 40,000 people with disabilities. Interest-free loans of up to 30 million soums will be allocated to them from the Employment Fund.

Social assistance and benefits will continue for families at risk of falling back into poverty. Over a six-month period, they will receive material support and child allowances, while for 12 months they will have access to 110 social services and benefits, including childcare, extracurricular costs, and medical treatment vouchers.

In addition, families at high risk of poverty due to difficult life circumstances will be identified in advance and provided with targeted assistance.

Oversight of these tasks, and coordination with regional governors to ensure implementation, has been assigned to Shahnaza Mirziyoyeva, First Deputy Director of the National Agency for Social Protection.