6 Million people in Uzbekistan require social protection

According to recent estimates, around 5 to 6 million people in Uzbekistan need social protection, with the assessment still ongoing. Dilfuza Ruzmetova, head of the Information Service at the National Social Protection Agency under the President, shared this information with QALAMPIR.UZ.

Ruzmetova highlighted that she receives around 10-15 requests for help daily, reflecting the significant number of vulnerable individuals in the country.

"The final count is not yet complete. Among those identified, 1.1 million come from low-income families, 1.176 million are persons with disabilities, and more than 18,000 are elderly individuals in need of care," she explained.

Previously, social protection efforts were scattered across six different ministries, which led to gaps in the information about those in need. To address this, a special platform is being developed, and a national registry of individuals requiring social assistance is being maintained.

“We have social workers across all regions who conduct house-to-house visits to assess the needs of the population. Our focus spans over 10 categories, including individuals with disabilities, elderly people in critical or solitary conditions, children who have lost their breadwinners, and those who have served prison sentences," Rozmetova added.