DUSHANBE, June 8, 2011, Asia-Plus — Although official figures do not give a proper picture of poverty, inequality and unemployment in Central Asia’s countries, existing evidences show that poverty is widespread in the region, especially in Tajikistan, the International Monetary Fund (IMF)’s Caucasus and Central Asia (CCA) Review, released by the IMF Dushanbe Office on June 7, said.
The report, in particular, notes that income inequality, joblessness and underemployment evoke concern in the whole region. “Various forms of public assistance are used in some countries of the region, but their effectiveness is reduced by insufficient financing, organizing problems, weak administrative capacity and corruption.”
The Fund analysts assert that poverty, inequality and insufficient social protection coupled with corruption increase risk of social tensions. According to them, mass migration to Russia, which is the most important source of jobs and remittances, serves as a safety valve for the countries of the region.
In the meantime, according to official data, 45 percent of the population of Tajikistan lives below the poverty line. The country’s authorities say that the poverty rate is decreasing from year to year.
In a report released at a news conference in Dushanbe, Minister of Economic Development and Trade Farrukh Hamraliyev said on April 27 that according to the findings of annual sociological surveys, the poverty rate in the country has decreased from 72 percent in 2003 to 45 percent. According to him, the number of poor people has decreased by 2.5 million people in recent years.”
He also noted that the middle class was becoming stronger in the country. “Person who has TV set, fridge and mobile phone cannot be considered as poor person,” Hamraliyev noted.
