The leader of the "Milliy Tiklanish" party and Vice Speaker of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan, Alisher Kadirov, faced criticism on the internet for his remarks on the causes of poverty, Gazeta.uz reports.
On July 22, the deputy wrote on Twitter that seven years ago, 34% of the population in Uzbekistan was considered poor, and by 2023, this figure had decreased to 14%.
According to Alisher Kadirov, poverty signifies defeat, and it affects those who lack effort, knowledge, and skills. He believes that despite the state's efforts, those who lose will remain poor.
Some internet users supported the "Milliy Tiklanish" leader, stating that there are individuals who have become accustomed to being dependent.
Others raised questions about teachers who receive low salaries, wondering if they should resort to corruption. Some pointed out the double-digit inflation. A few people made light-hearted remarks, joking about the eradication of poverty in 2023.
Doniyor Ganiev, a deputy from the UzLiDeP party, responded on the same day, stating that while it is true that lazy and unskilled individuals can be poor, it does not mean that all poor people are like that. He drew a comparison to the notion that not all deputies are foolish even though some unintelligent people may become deputies.
Referring to Abhijit Banerjee and Esther Duflo, Nobel laureates in economics for their experimental approaches to combating global poverty, Ganiev emphasized that people cannot escape poverty just by working, as they may be trapped in the so-called "poverty trap" of hunger, disease, unemployment, and lack of access to education.
The following day, Alisher Kadirov responded without mentioning Doniyor Ganiev by name, referring to remarks about deputies being foolish as "short-sightedness and disrespect" towards voters and current and former deputies who contributed to the country's development. He suggested that Ganiev ask how he formed such an opinion, as some of Ganiev's close relatives were also deputies.
Alisher Kadirov reiterated that poor people must overcome the problems hindering them from living well. He emphasized that regardless of one's circumstances, achieving their goals depends on their actions, knowledge, and skills. He stated that populations in need of social assistance are protected by the state worldwide and that this is not up for discussion.
He used the example of the Soviet socialism that got entangled in high-flown and deceptive promises to provide equal and equally provided life, which eventually disappeared along with the idea.
He expressed his vision for Uzbekistan as a social state with many wealthy people, faithful to the Uzbek people's humanistic values.
A day later, Doniyor Ganiev responded, noting that the poor need compassion and support, not discrimination. He mentioned the past when migrant workers were considered lazy and ungrateful, but the state's position has since changed to recognize them as heroes of the time.
Ganiev expressed concern that some (consciously or not) still support aporophobia (disapproval of the poor), which discriminates against economically weaker strata and forms incorrect perceptions against them, just as in the past.
He highlighted that blaming 14% of the country's population (5 mn citizens) for inaction and irresponsibility, deeming them deserving of their situation, is the most classical form of aporophobic discrimination.
He expressed the importance of combating stereotypes associated with poverty and spreading empathy and understanding among other members of society towards the less fortunate.
Earlier, the Statistics Agency announced a new poverty threshold in Uzbekistan, raising the minimum consumer expenses from 498 thousand to 568 thousand sums per month. The agency also responded to criticism regarding the determination of this indicator.
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