The government's aim is to instill a spirit among Rakeedhoo-born people of returning to the island, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih said today.
The president started campaigning in Vaavu atoll today after concluding a campaign trip to Meemu atoll.
The first destination was Rakeedhoo, an island with a small population. The island's registry has about 400 people but most live elsewhere as essential services such as education are unavailable.
The results of the last census showed that the resident population of the island is 63 people.
The president highlighted the problem of the declining population at the campaign rally on the island.
"The [reason] for leaving the island without living even in this mid-level population is the challenges in providing an education to children at the least, challenges in the health service, difficulties in embarking and disembarking from the island. So we did prioritize this island," he said.
In order to provide essential services on the island, the president said work has been done under the 'Jazeera Raajje' manifesto to build an adequate harbor and to protect the island's coast and shoreline.
The education system is what needs to be improved now to encourage people to stay on the island, he noted.
"Despite difficulties, the school has been completed and is ready to open. No person from the island responded despite announcements made twice to seek teachers for the school. Now we have to find someone out of the island," the president said.
The education ministry is working on it and a satellite school service will start very soon, he pledged.
"I hope that as a result the island's population will increase and a spirit of returning to the island will be created among people born here," the president said.
The president said essential services will be established before considering land reclamation to resolve the island's shortage of space.
