The social security system is taking shape to enable caregivers to operate throughout the country, says the President

  • The administration will hand over title deeds to its spacious and comfortable housing units and land plots before the end of June
  • Several programmes are undertaken to prevent youth from going astray
  • Disability benefits would be increased beginning in June
  • Significant efforts are underway to digitise services; One-Gov and digital IDs will be launched in March

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih delivered his Presidential Address at the People’s Majlis on Monday. In his address, President Solih announced that the administration would hand over the title deeds to the recipients of its flats and land plots before the end of June. He emphasised that during a presidential term, his administration would be the first to hand over fully completed housing units, from foundation to finish.

In his address, President Solih announced plans to increase the number of land plots to be allocated for the residents of the Greater Malé area. Under efforts to ease housing difficulties, the administration approved homeowner loans for 55 per cent of the applications and signed contracts with 249 individuals. The President said that the 556 housing units being built in the atolls would be completed by the end of May, while construction is underway for an additional 2,200 housing units in the atolls.

The President emphasised the progress in establishing tertiary hospitals and restoring primary healthcare services with community health workers. He highlighted the importance of the availability of mental health services in the country and stated that the Center for Mental Health had successfully reduced its waitlist from over 3,000 to 411.

Speaking on the social security system, which is taking shape to enable caregivers to operate throughout the country, the President said that the administration provided basic training to 430 caregivers in 62 islands and two cities in seven atolls last year. On the administration’s efforts to address unemployment and the social exclusion of youth, President Solih said that vocational and non-tertiary training programmes had been increased. At the same time, a halfway house for the rehabilitation of women was introduced in November last year, he added.

Speaking on the efforts to provide a safe and familial environment for children taken into state care, the President highlighted that the administration established seven safe centres for the children, while Family and Children’s Centers have been established in 19 atolls, to which 156 additional staff have been deployed over the past four years.

In his address, President Solih announced that the compilation of the National Disability Registry had been completed and that the disability allowance would be increased starting in June. Highlighting that maintaining social justice would be difficult without gender equality, President Solih added that implementing the Gender Equality Action Plan was in progress.