The Development Strategy of the New Uzbekistan is a historical document authored by the people
TEHRAN (Iran News)
All actions in the previous period were aimed at dialogue with the people. When developing the Development Strategy, the existing problems were taken into account and the actual tasks awaiting their solution were reflected. Citizens of the country actively participated in the preparation of this document. Therefore, it will not be an exaggeration to say that this is a historical document authored by the people.
In this sense, the name of the first direction is symbolic – “Building a people’s state by ensuring the interests of man and the further development of a free civil society.”
It covers 12 goals and 42 tasks that characterize aspects of the planned plans.
The first goal is to increase the efficiency of the mahalla (neighbourhood) institution and its transformation into a supporting link in public administration and control. This institution of self-government, which has passed the test of time, fully corresponds to the historical tradition of the hostel, the mentality of Uzbek people.
The first steps have been taken, positive experience has been gained. In particular, a new system has been created and the position of hokim’s (Governor’s) assistants has been introduced. Currently, they have started work in all mahallas aimed at improving the welfare of the population through the development of entrepreneurship. Communicating closely with their residents, they find out who has a desire to do business, advise, help find finance to start a business. The state, for its part, allocates significant funds to support those who start their own business. This approach is consonant with the principle that reforms should be initiated by the people.
It is required to establish more targeted work on the socio-economic development of the mahalla, ensuring financial independence and employment, and constant communication with the population. As a result, create an active model of mahalla, acting in the interests and in order to meet the needs of its residents.
The second goal is to turn the local Kengashes of people’s deputies into the main link in solving problems in the regions.
So far, some work has been done in this direction. As a result, local Kengashes demand from executive bodies for the implementation of socio-economic programs, express their opinion on topical issues, participate in the formation and control of the budget, request information on more than 30 issues.
Ahead is work on drawing up territorial programs based on the Development Strategy. This is quite a big job. They are instructed to regularly hear reports on the creation of six million jobs, taking into account industry and territorial sectors. Work will be continued aimed at turning local Kengashes into the main link in the socio-economic development of territories, raising the standard of living of the population, forming local budgets and monitoring their implementation. The activities of the Senate committees will also be coordinated with the activities of the standing commissions of local Kengashes for closer interaction.
The third goal is to bring the institutional foundations of the activities of local government bodies in line with the requirements of the time.
To achieve this goal, it is planned to expand the financial capabilities of local khokimiyats to address topical issues. They must be accountable to the public. The legal foundations for the election of khokims are also being laid. The regions themselves will determine the required number of staff units and the structure of executive bodies, and as a result, form a register of powers. It is envisaged to widely introduce information technologies, to use more than 40 geoportals.
The fourth goal is to transform the activities of public administration bodies on the principle of serving citizens.
For its implementation, it is necessary to revise the system of public administration. Legal mechanisms will be created to regulate the procedure and criteria of the organization. The limits on the staff units of state administration bodies, the norms of human and material resources have been determined. Representatives of the general public will be involved to resolve emerging issues with a conflict of interest.
The fifth goal is the introduction of a compact, professional, fair, highly efficient system of public administration. Here, the main task is to provide greater independence to ministries and departments in resolving issues within their competence. Along with this, serious attention will be paid to strengthening their performance discipline, increased responsibility for their work in the regions. In a word, a new system is being created, designed to serve the effective functioning of ministries and departments in strategic directions.
The sixth goal is the rationalization of the administrative apparatus and the optimization of work processes in the public administration system.
For this purpose, a number of state functions are transferred to the private sector. Accordingly, public administration will be decentralized, its openness and transparency will be ensured.
The seventh goal is to increase the role of the chambers of the Oliy Majlis and political parties in the consistent continuation of reforms in the country. Because of this, their powers in solving urgent problems in domestic and foreign policy are expanding. Unconditional execution of laws will be under enhanced parliamentary control. Legislation and parliamentary oversight will be linked to the views of the general public. At the same time, the practice of setting specific strategic objectives and sending requests to state budgetary organizations is being introduced.
Taking into account the current realities, remote forms of communication with the regions will be developed.
An electronic system will be used to a greater extent for the prompt resolution of the problems of voters, regular communication with them. Communication with local Kengashes is also being digitized.
The eighth goal is to modernize the process of rule-making, ensuring the strict implementation of laws. The participation of the people is an important factor for improving lawmaking. In this process, consultations with civil society institutions are planned. At the same time, legislative acts will be shortened, legal documents relating to the activities of state bodies will be systematized. The plans include the development of the Concept for the Development of the Legislation of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
The ninth goal is the development of the “Electronic Government” system, bringing the share of electronic public services to one hundred percent and eliminating bureaucracy.
To achieve this goal, government services will be digitized, service through mobile applications will be expanded, 20 percent of them will be transferred to the private sector. The Mobile ID personal identification system will increase the level of public services. The exchange of information between government agencies and private organizations will take place through the Electronic Government system.
The introduction of a permit-notification system that ensures the protection of personal data is another important innovation. This process takes into account the interests of the elderly and those with disabilities. The provision of public services will be simplified and facilitated. Already now, within the framework of the Digital Office project, the work of state bodies is carried out in the digital field. Through the project “Digital Passport of Citizens”, the practice of requiring identity documents will be eliminated. These changes are very relevant for compatriots outside of Uzbekistan.
The tenth goal is to organize the public service system on the basis of modern standards.
Corruption is one of the most dangerous evils that people suffer from. It is planned to eliminate the conditions conducive to corruption in the civil service, improve the legal framework for recruiting personnel on a competitive basis and assessing the effectiveness of their activities.
The National Rating system will be introduced to assess the activities of civil servants and state bodies according to key performance indicators, the level of professional training and material and social security of civil servants will be increased, a national personnel reserve of worthy candidates for senior positions in local khokimiyats, ministries and departments will be formed, implemented the project “Digital Civil Service”, which provides for the digitalization of the processes of entering the civil service, its passage and evaluation of activities. The requirements for working hours will also be reviewed, as well as the criteria for working in state bodies.
The eleventh goal is to further improve the mechanisms of communication with the people. This will primarily serve to expand the practice of making important decisions based on public opinion. To this end, a centralized system of appeals is being created, which will make it possible to establish digital control over their consideration, and prompt consideration of applications from the population.
Among the priority areas is the implementation of the national program “People’s State”, which provides for the implementation of the idea “The state should serve the people.”
The Civic Chamber should increase its effectiveness by strengthening cooperation with civil society institutions and expanding participation in solving the problems of the population.
The twelfth goal is to improve the organizational and legal foundations of effective public control.
Its achievement will accelerate the implementation of public control, whose attention will be focused on verifying the implementation of state, territorial and sectoral programs drawn up taking into account collective appeals. Subjects of public control are involved in the implementation of certain functions of the state.
Work will consistently continue to increase the socio-political and electoral activity of the population, the implementation of international standards relating to elections in national legislation. The protection of the activities of the media and journalists will be strengthened, their work will be effectively used in studying the problems that concern people and the progress of reforms.
For the development of social partnership, the volume of support for civil society institutions through state subsidies, grants, and social orders will double. Also, the amount of funds allocated to public funds to support non-governmental non-profit organizations and other civil society institutions under local Kengashes will also increase sevenfold.
The Development Strategy includes a number of tasks relating to our contemporaries. It is planned to create a system of continuous support for women in need of assistance, as well as women activists. Work in this direction will be carried out within the framework of the National Program for Improving the Role of Women in Society, which is being developed on behalf of the President. It will become the legal basis for the full participation of women in the political, economic, social and cultural life of society. The legal framework for protecting the legitimate rights and interests of women will be improved, and strict control over the implementation of international conventions and norms of national legislation will be ensured.
The Senate of the Oliy Majlis was given the task of developing the Aral Sea region, constant parliamentary control over the work carried out in this direction.
The Upper House of Parliament has developed instruments of control to create 6 million jobs, which are planned to be created through the development of the service sector. Work in this direction will be discussed monthly in local Kengashes and the Senate.
The Cabinet of Ministers will have to report to the Parliament on the work carried out within the framework of the Development Strategy. Each quarter, the Senate will work closely with the government to achieve strategic objectives.
The historical document for the next five years is in line with the Sustainable Development Goals. The implementation of the Development Strategy will make it possible to simultaneously successfully implement the UN Sustainable Development Goals by 2026.
Through ensuring the fulfillment of the tasks of the State Program for the Implementation of the Development Strategy in 2022, the requests of all segments of the population – representatives of the middle class and entrepreneurs, intellectuals, employees of budgetary organizations, the military, veterans, low-income families, persons with disabilities – in general, the whole people will be satisfied.
Achieving large-scale goals imposes a huge responsibility on the Republican Commission for the implementation of the Development Strategy and the corresponding State Program. We are well aware that we must act together, as the President said at the videoconference. Then there will definitely be a result that all citizens of the country need.
Tanzila NARBAEVA,
Chairman of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan
