Ï Social policy priority - to uphold interests of citizens
mail-icon
altynasyr.newspaper@sanly.tm
EN RU TK

Social policy priority - to uphold interests of citizens

view-icon 2210
President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov signed the Law “On the Amendments to the Social Welfare Code of Turkmenistan”. This document adopted in the context of the priorities of the Turkmen leader’s policy is a part of the task-oriented programme aimed at developing this important sphere. The key aspects of this programme include the fundamental reform of the pension system, improvement of the system of welfare benefit accounting and payment and extension of social assistance.

The rate of state disability allowances, state benefits for disabled children under the age of 16, state benefit payments to persons childhood disability regardless of disability group, state benefit payments for the loss of a breadwinner, state benefit payments for the loss of a breadwinner to war widows, state benefit payments for the loss of a breadwinner to wives of Great Patriotic War veterans who returned home, state benefit payments for the loss of a breadwinner to double orphans, state benefit payments for the loss of a breadwinner to children who lost their parents (breadwinners) or children who lost only a mother, state welfare payments will be significantly increased on January 1, 2012 in accordance with the new legal act which vivid evidence for the social orientation of the Turkmen leader’s policy.

The Social Welfare Code of Turkmenistan adopted in March 2007 set forth the legal, economic and organizational principles of the social welfare system of the country. Since the document was adopted, numerous amendments and additions have been introduced to the articles of the Code related to social welfare of senior citizens, maternal and child health care, protection of disabled persons and other group of population who need social assistance.

The state maternity and child benefit payments to employed and unemployed mothers and persons with childhood disability were increased. The period during which the child benefit payments are made ranges from 1 to 3 years. The amendments on free provisions prosthesis and other medical services to persons with the third disability group were introduced.

The amendments and additions on the granting and recalculation of pensions were introduced to regulatory and legal acts in order to improve further social assistance provided to the population. In particular, the limitations of the length of services for the citizens who retired before August 1, 1998 and agricultural workers were removed.

The articles regulating social protection of military servants, Great Patriotic War veterans and disabled war veterans, war widows and families were significantly amended. Numerous benefits provided to these groups of the population on the initiative of the Turkmen leader have created the conditions for their dignified life.

The concern for the people and improvement of the welfare of the Turkmen people is a key policy priority of the Turkmen state and the ongoing ambitious reforms initiated by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov. It is this aim the essence of which is formulate din the principle “a state for the people” that the social and economic development strategy is to achieve in the new historical epoch.

This illustrated by the fact that over 75 percent of the budgetary funds have been allocated to promote the social sphere including the education, health care, cultural and social security sector on a monthly basis this year. This year the rate of wage increases has made up 113.5 percent as compared to 2010.

The 2012 State budget, which allocates 76.7 percent of funds to promote the social sphere, was developed to achieve the aims set in the National Program for Social and Economic Development of Turkmenistan for 2011-2030.

The substantial funds will be committed to promoting the National Programme for improvement of the social and living conditions in villages, towns, cities, districts and etrap centres for the period till 2020 and the Health State Programme, developing the Avaza national tourism zone and implementing other national programmes and ambitious infrastructure projects.

the large-scale construction of comfortable apartment houses, schools and kindergartens, medical institutions and sanatoria supplied with state-of-the-art technologies and equipment, cultural centres and other social and economic facilities enable to improve the quality of life of Turkmen citizens; people in the Turkmen capital and all regions of the country are provided with access to scientific and technical advances and creature comforts.

Another important indicator is the growth of real income of population that is ensured through the continuous rise in salary, pensions, state benefits and scholarships, the pricing policy, encouragement of business initiatives and other measures taken in the country.

In this regard it should be noted that in July this year President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov issued the Decree authorizing to increase monthly salary, pensions, state benefits and grants by 10 percent from January 1, 2012.

The high economic potential and stable GDP growth allow the Turkmen state to provide a wide range of additional social benefits to citizens. Free electricity, gas, water, gasoline to owners of private vehicles, low communal and transport service fees are the arguments and facts which allow stating that the ambitious reforms of the epoch of new Revival are aimed at improving the people’s welfare.

“The major aims in the new historical epoch continue to be the people’s welfare and economic progress. The meaningful principle “a state for the people” reflects the essence and content of all the large-scale reforms we are implementing. The tremendous resource potential of the natural wealth of Turkmenistan, the opportunities it opens up will be used to ensure the advancement of the Motherland and drastically improve the quality of life of citizens,” said President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov at the joint meeting of public organisations on December 15.

In this context the new Law “On the Amendments and Additions to the Social Welfare Code of Turkmenistan” illustrate that consistent and systematic steps are taken to promote the conception devised by the Turkmen leader Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov to ensure sustainable development of the country for the benefit and prosperity of its citizens.