A local community, a unique civil society institution, has grown into a well-organized structure over the years of independence, which is recognized by the international community as a fair and impressive institution of social support. Its undisputable authority in Uzbekistan is obvious today, based on centuries of history, national traditions, endowed with a profound meaning and substance, which indicates the sequence of reforms of the transition from a strong state to a strong civil society.

The approval of the Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan on the establishment of Mahalla Republican Charity Fund was the new stage for citizens’ self-government bodies. This is another clear manifestation of concern for the future development of the institution of local community. The decree emphasizes the importance of this fund as a pledge of preservation of the national cultural heritage, the best traditions and customs of our people, and basically streamlines its activity. Local communities are entrusted with expanding cultural and educational activities, and strengthening their role in social and economic sectors.

The logistical base of the civil society institution was established over the years of independence, as well as its objectives, policies and principles of development. More than 40 legislative acts were adopted in support of the local community to regulate the legal basis of the citizens\' assemblies across the country. 14 regional branches, 195 district and municipal offices of Mahalla Republican Charity Fund with the support of the state were encouraged for expansion of their activities, and now they are actively involved in public scrutiny and establishment of social partnership.

The tasks put forward in the ‘Concept of intensifying democratic reforms and forming the civil society in the country’ on the improvement of the institution of local community challenged the Mahalla Fund and citizen’s self-government bodies with new requirements and imposed them to expand the scope of activities.

Thus, a special part was assigned to the further streamlining of institutional framework of local communities, ensuring close partnership between public authorities and self-government bodies, improvement of targeted social support, as well as their transformation into centers of development of private entrepreneurship and family business.

By the present time the Fund has fulfilled certain work in this direction. It introduced a system of targeted social protection through the citizens\' assemblies in local communities, streamlines rendering of material and moral support to low-income families. For instance, over a billion soums has been spent for activities in this direction this year.

The Fund provides tangible support to Mercy and Sahovat homes, and specialized boarding schools. About two billion soums was drawn for the past five years to improve the logistical base of hospitals. The Fund provides great support to low-income families during the nation-wide celebrations of Independence Day and Navruz.

To further improve the efficiency of spiritual and enlightenment work the offices of the Fund assisted local communities in formation of commissions on religious enlightenment and spiritual and moral education, over 7,000 advocacy groups, ‘rooms of spirituality’, information and resource centers.

Over the past six months territorial offices and units of the Fund held more than 80 thousand spirituality and enlightenment actions in the field, which covered more than 9,000 citizens\' assemblies with four million people. Jointly with healthcare and educational institutions they held panel discussions on ‘The importance of medical examination’, ‘Family is a sacred house’ and ‘Are you ready for a family?’ To ensure the execution of the national program the Year of Family and the public scrutiny in the field the Public Councils were formed in local communities out of respected citizens.

The Fund tuned up the annual arrangement and conduct of sports competitions The Future of Football, Mahalla’s Top Strongmen, Uzbek Martial Arts in local communities to promote sports, especially among children. Such actions evoke genuine interest of the younger generation; hence the number of participants is growing year by year.

Over the past five years the Fund invested into building of 258 sports grounds, reconstruction of nearly 700 facilities, and 794 local communities were supplied with sports equipment.

The Fund provides methodological and practical assistance on promotion of the best practices of citizens\' assemblies, social protection, transformation of local communities into entrepreneurship and family business centers, implementation of public scrutiny within the assigned authorities, and further expansion of social partnership.

The Republican Board of the Fund in cooperation with the concerned ministries and agencies develop draft regulations aimed at improving the activity of citizens\' assemblies. The Fund is carrying out a range of measures to enhance the mechanism of collaboration ‘family – local community - educational institution’ in nurturing of comprehensively advanced generation, development of family and private entrepreneurship and small business.

In short, the Fund and its structures are guided by the interests of the people in implementing their objectives. Civil society can develop only in a country, where the rights and interests of citizens are protected. (Source: Uzbekistan Today newspaper)