Ahead of taking the oath of office as the eighth President of the Maldives later today, a plan for President-Elect Dr. Mohamed Muizzu's first 100 days in office was unveiled on Wednesday night with 172 projects to be carried out at a cost of MVR 250 million.
The plan presented during a special function at the Dharubaaruge convention center was divided into eight parts:
- Independence and sovereignty
- Islam and nationhood
- Housing and infrastructure
- Economy and environment
- Women, youth, arts and sports
- Health, fitness and compassionate society
- Education and training
- Government policy and legal reforms
The top priorities in the plan are housing, economy, environment and health.
Muizzu, who contested for the presidency on the People's National Congress (PNC) ticket and traveled to more than 150 islands, mainly campaigned on removing Indian soldiers from the Maldives and freeing the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) leader and former President Abdulla Yameen.
Accordingly, work on expelling Indian soldiers is to begin on the first day of the government.
PPM-PNC leadership at a protest calling for the expulsion of Indian soldiers. -- Photo: Mohamed Shabin/ Adhadhu
Beginning work on removing Indian soldiers on day one
Three tasks included in the independence and sovereignty policy mainly focus on the issue of Indian soldiers and the Chagos boundary dispute, which the PPM-PNC coalition expressed concern over before and during the presidential election campaign.
The pledges:
- Beginning work on removing Indian soldiers on the first day of the government
- Beginning work on canceling clauses in secret agreements signed between the government and other countries that threaten the country's independence and sovereignty
- Appealing a judgment by the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) that caused the loss of territorial waters in the south.
Beginning work on establishing heritage college and heritage research center
Seven tasks in the Islam and nationhood section include increasing the budget for renovating mosques threefold and establishing a mechanism to monitor the state of mosques without interruption.
Other notable policies:
- Establishing a center to research Maldivian heritage
- Beginning work on establishing a national heritage college
- Beginning work on a national publisher
Hiya flats. -- Photo: Adhadhu
Reducing rent for row houses and social housing flats
The 23 tasks in the housing and infrastructure section include reducing rent for row houses and flats provided as social housing, beginning reclamation of the Fushidhiggaru lagoon and expediting the Velana International Airport and Thilamale' bridge projects.
Muizzu made the most number of pledges in this area. Other notable pledges:
- Providing assistance to island councils that have not completed land use plans
- Formulating a 20-year national development masterplan
- Completing water and sewerage projects on islands without the services
- Beginning work on the Addu bridge
- Developing a transhipment port in Gaadhoo
A law for SDF, ceasing money printing
The 21 tasks in the economy and environment section includes resuming depositing dollars to the Sovereign Development Fund (SDF), enacting a law to govern the SDF and stopping the printing of Rufiyaa.
Other notable tasks include an "Asseyri Tourism" project for Addu, creating a separate agency for marketing the fisheries sector and formulating policies to ensure that state-owned enterprises (SOEs) are profitable.
Other notable projects:
- Announcing a debt policy that would not disrupt the economy and treasury
- Drafting and submitting a bill to parliament for broadening the real estate business
- Introducing a policy of jobs for all
- Increasing the role of fishers in managing the Maldives Industrial Fisheries Company (MIFCO)
- Compiling a national registry of fishers and taxi drivers
- Beginning work on introducing wide-body aircraft by the national airline
- Drafting and submitting to parliament a bill on travel agencies
MVR 100 million business loan for women, legal solution for online businesses
The 16 tasks in the women, youth, arts and sports section include increasing the number of women in high-ranking positions of government companies and introducing an MVR 100 million startup loan scheme for women.
Other notable plans include developing a futsal complex and beginning work on providing a legislative solution to legal problems faced in sending and receiving money through online payment platforms.
Other notable pledges:
- Designating a special area in Hulhumale' for products created by women
- Reforming the legal framework for the protection of female workers
- Formulating a plan for facilitating opportunities in the coding field
- Working to ensure that Maldivians can run businesses in e-commerce platforms
- Establishing a "Fit Maldives" portal for sports associations.
Aasandha for IVF, free bone marrow transplants
The 17 pledges in the health, fitness and compassionate society section include Aasandha coverage for IVF, endometriosis and PCOS, establishing a 24-hour helpline for mental health treatment, and enabling every Maldivian citizen to perform medical checkups through Aasandha.
Other notable pledges:
- Formulating a plan for setting up ATMs on islands without any
- Enabling free bone marrow transplants
- Formulating a policy for free Hajj pilgrimages for 1,000 low-income individuals
- Allowing workers above 65 years of age to remain in their jobs
- Formulating a policy for providing jobs to persons with special needs
Aminiyya School students. -- Photo: Adhadhu
Special subject on nationhood and establishing research grant fund
Pledges in the education and training section include a special subject on Maldivian nationhood, revising the national curriculum to revive the custom of respect, and establishing a research fund.
Other notable pledges:
- Beginning construction of new Arabiyya school building
- Launching a project for building hostels on islands
- Formulating programs for teaching arts and crafts.
Decentralization ministry, bail law and amending freedom of assembly law
The 12 pledges in the section on government policy and law reform include splitting the fisheries and agriculture ministry into separate ministries, creating a special ministry for sports, amending the law on freedom of assembly, and drafting and submitting to parliament a bill on bail releases.
Other notable pledges:
- Transferring municipal services in Hulhumale' to the Male' City Council
- Creating a special ministry for strengthening decentralization
- Creating an institution for the Dhivehi language, culture and heritage
- Making special arrangements for marking important Islamic occasions at the national level.
