In Jizzakh, a town for nuclear workers and child benefits for working mothers - local digest

An atomic town in Jizzakh and child benefits for working mothers — local digest

An atomic town will be built in Jizzakh. Officials responsible for poverty reduction will switch to an enhanced work regime. Working mothers will be paid benefits until their child reaches one year of age. Obtaining a Thai visa has become more complicated for Uzbeks. Individuals attempting to smuggle $240,000 out of Uzbekistan by hiding it on their legs have been detained.

**An atomic town will be built in Jizzakh**

The total cost of the integrated nuclear power plant project being built in the Jizzakh region is 9.5 billion dollars.

This was announced to President Shavkat Mirziyoyev during a presentation on the ongoing work to build the integrated NPP and its adjacent town. According to preliminary calculations, the share of local products in the project will amount to 21 percent or 1.9 billion dollars.

It was proposed to establish an industrial zone specialized in construction materials on a 200-hectare area in the Farish district. It is planned to locate at least 100 joint ventures there and localize product manufacturing in 15 directions through technology transfer.

During the construction period, a plan to build an atomic town was also considered in order to provide workers, specialists, and their families with decent living conditions. It is planned to build about 10,000 housing units, including 3,000 apartments in the first phase, designed for nearly 33,000 residents on a two-hundred-hectare area.

An absolutely new system for working with poverty will be introduced, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced. Under this system, responsible leaders for the "mahalla seven", regional and district khokims, as well as banks will switch to an enhanced work regime. Headquarters led by the khokim will be established in each region and district. The authority to manage preferential credit resources for family and youth entrepreneurship will be transferred to the district headquarters. Khokims, along with the entire economic complex, will deal exclusively with poverty and employment issues three days a week.

Khokim assistants in most mahallas will be appointed as acting: enterprising personnel will be reappointed to their positions, and those unfit for their work will be replaced. Foreign specialists will be involved to train khokim assistants to work "project-by-project". The terms of loans, subsidies, and compensations will now be determined and updated quarterly by the Ministry of Economy and Finance and the Central Bank, rather than the president.

The most exemplary khokim assistants will be given a special qualification level and paid a bonus of up to 50 percent.

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev outlined new approaches to strengthening the social protection of needy families.

According to this, the National Agency for Social Protection will revise the system of entering the needy population into the "social registry" by the end of the year.

In doing so, a transition will be made to a multidimensional assessment system that covers factors such as chronic illness, disability, having many children, and family members working abroad, along with the population's income.

Although the poverty rate in the republic has dropped to 3.9 percent, this figure averages 6.5 percent in families with children under 3 years old. Working mothers will be paid benefits from the Social Insurance Fund until their child reaches one year of age.

From 2027, the state and private kindergarten fees, training center fees, travel expenses, and university dormitory costs of children from families entered into the registry will be covered through vouchers, — Shavkat Mirziyoyev said.

The government of Thailand has officially canceled the 60-day visa-free regime, which was in effect for citizens of 93 countries, including Uzbekistan, starting from September 15.

Now, to travel to Thailand, citizens of Uzbekistan must apply for an entry visa in advance by filling out an electronic visa application form through the Kingdom's official electronic visa portal (thaievisa.go.th).

After that, the citizen must make the visa payment in cash in the amount of 30 US dollars at the Embassy of Thailand located in Moscow.

At the "Navoiy" border-customs post in the Tashkent region, two individuals crossing into the neighboring country on foot raised suspicion among the officers. They were subjected to a personal search in accordance with the established procedure. During the search, 240,000 dollars wrapped with adhesive tape around their legs were discovered.

It is noted that they did not declare this money during the oral inquiry, nor did they indicate it in the customs declaration. Currently, investigation activities are being carried out by the customs authorities regarding the situation.

According to current legislation, citizens can take currency equivalent to 100 million soums out of Uzbekistan without filling out a declaration.

It is being said on social networks that a high-pressure pipe may have exploded — both the capital's khokimiyat and Veolia Energy stated that what happened is currently being clarified.

According to the khokimiyat, one person sustained minor injuries. Meanwhile, Veolia stated that no leakage has been detected at the moment.