6.3. Policies to Reduce Poverty
6.3.1. Reduction of Income Poverty
6.4. Social Support Programs for Poor Families and Other Vulnerable Population
6.4.1. Characteristics of the Main Forms of Family Assistance
6.4.2. Program for the Disable
6.4.3. Pensions
Number of pages 111, Statistical Tables 47, Tables in text and charts not numbered.
2. Features of the Report
Whereas the 1995 NHDR was the first major review of the status and challenges in the areas
affecting prospects of human development during the transition, the 1996 Report examines basic
relationships between economic growth and human development. To do this, it assesses the
conduct of market reforms which contribute to human development; identifies problems and
challenges in the rural areas; outlines the emerging issues of habitat discusses the reforms
required to strengthen the social infrastructure of health and education; and analyses poverty and
its different dimensions.
The Report represents an attempt to initiate dialogue and discussion on these key issues, as such
it is considered as only the beginning and serves as an invitation to more thorough discussions
involving decision-makers, academics and development practitioners.
The Report contains a number of proposals to make future economic growth in Uzbekistan job-
intensive, equitable and ecologically sustainable.
3. Overall Trends
Despite Uzbekistan's rich natural resources and skilled labor force, by the end of the 1980’s, per
capita income, labor productivity, and real wages also experienced decline. Since 1991, reforms
were initiated to reverse these trends and overcome their disruption caused by the break-up of the
Soviet Union. The initial stages of reform have generated high social costs, but the government
took the view that for reforms to succeed, it was necessary to reduce these high social costs. The
decline in inflation helped to stabilize incomes and the real value of social subsidies. Equally,
special programs undertaken by the government helped to reduce infant and maternal mortality
rates and produce an increase in life expectancy.
4. Governance Trends
The Government has enjoyed a period of stability as it adapts its institutions to the needs of a
market economy. The former state planning agencies of the previous centrally planned system
have been abolished, and new organizations are being established. The activities of central
economic bodies and ministries are under reorganization, but the full benefits of such reforms
will take some time to realize, due to the need to refrain cadres and build up a supply of newly
educated technicians and managers.
At the same time, an integrated legal system has been formulated and consolidated into a book of
statutes, leading to the formation of new legal institutions. This system includes more than 100
principal legislative laws and comprises components relating to laws which: regulate the
principles of state management and self-government, establish new property relations and equal