The Maldivian Democratic Party's (MDP) youth policies were unveiled on Sunday night with pledges for affordable housing, co-living spaces and support for entrepreneurs.
The youth section of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih's re-election manifesto was launched at a campaign rally in Noonu Velidhoo. The section includes youth-related policies for housing, health and entertainment.
Housing
- Creating affordable co-living and studio spaces to alleviate the burden of high rents and large advance payments and facilitate easy leases or ownership.
- Issuing loans for residential purposes to first-time homeowners at no more than 6 percent interest rate and 10 percent equity.
- Introducing council housing for socio-economically vulnerable persons.
Creating youth entrepreneurs
- Establishing a Youth Innovation Lab and youth entrepreneurship incubators across the country to pave the way for self-employed youth to earn an income.
- Introducing start-up loans, equity financing and micro-financing loans for youth.
- Expanding the Job Centre, holding career guidance sessions and job fairs for youth and familiarizing youth with employment opportunities.
- Introducing unemployment benefits through the social security system.
- Drafting and enacting a law on intellectual property rights to encourage innovation in the domestic economy.
- Establishing a platform for registering and trading patents and trademarks in order to ensure good incomes for innovative and productive work.
- Expanding the special loan scheme for artists.
- Establishing practise and working spaces along with basic equipment across the country for artists in various fields.
Youth health
- Special focus on prevention through a primary healthcare model.
- Establishing adolescent clinics and telemedicine clinics for mental health.
- Regulating the fitness industry.
- Establishing sports facilities on all islands equally for both genders to encourage an active lifestyle.
- Establishing indoor sports complexes in cities.
- Establishing facilities for emerging e-sports, martial arts, kite surfing, racing, urban skating and Parkour, which are increasingly popular among Maldivian adolescents and youth.
- Taking the Maldives to new heights as a country renowned for water sports.
- Arranging sports training opportunities in the Maldives and abroad for athletes.
- Establishing a national indoor futsal arena to hold international tournaments and introducing a national futsal league.
- Building racing tracks in Thilafushi and other regions.
Other manifesto pledges released last night included policies for youth empowerment, youth and technology, work skills and productive free time.
