THE RISE OF WOMEN'S SOCIAL STATUS DURING THE YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE (THE CASE OF SURXONDARYO REGION)

Аннотация

This article presents reflections on the rise of women’s social status within the family and society during the years 1999–2004, as well as the legal protection of their labor. It discusses the Resolution No. 117 adopted by the Cabinet of Ministers on March 17, 1999, “On Preferential Taxation of the Income of Women Working in Extremely Harmful and Heavy Working Conditions,” along with many other decisions made during the years of independence aimed at protecting women's interests. The article also emphasizes the significance of these policies in the lives of women. Special attention is given to the role of the 1999 State Program “Year of Women” in improving the lives of women in the Surxondaryo region. Keywords: “Year of Women”, State Program, “Surxon-Ajanta”, Surkhandarya Drilling Plant, Shargun Coal Mine, Sanitary and Epidemiological Station. During the years of independence, it is well known that numerous state programs have been adopted in our country to strengthen the role of women in the family and to create a healthy family environment. In 1999, in connection with the declaration of the “Year of Women,” a State Program was adopted aimed at strengthening the status and role of women in the political, socio-economic life of the country, in the development of a market economy, and in stabilizing the spiritual and educational foundations of society. More than 72 billion soums were allocated for the implementation of this program from the state budget, trade unions, enterprises and organizations, sponsors’ funds, foreign loans, and the humanitarian assistance of international organizations.1 Within the framework of the “Year of Women” State Program, 51.2 billion soums were allocated for the implementation of the measures carried out in our republic. Of this amount, 40.7 billion soums were spent on assistance to large and low-income families. 3.5 billion soums were used to provide first-grade students with school supplies and to supply clothing to children from low-income families. 7 billion soums were allocated for improving the health of women and children, constructing healthcare facilities, and equipping medical institutions with the best medical equipment. A series of measures were implemented under the program to improve the working and living conditions of more than 350,000 women, increase the incomes of women nearing retirement, veterans, and mothers with young children, and expand opportunities for child-rearing. Measures were also taken to introduce additional benefits for women engaged in hard labor. 142 million soums were allocated from the state budget to provide such benefits2. In accordance with the “Year of Women” State Program in 1999, aimed at easing women’s labor and improving their living conditions, the Cabinet of 1 Surxondaryo viloyat davlat arxivi. 1091-ащтв, 1-ro’yxat, 465-yig’ma jild, 56-varaq 2 Fan va turmush.1999y .488 bet. 1 82 International scientific journal ISSN: 2181-3906 «MODERN SCIENCE АND RESEARCH» 2025 VOLUME 4 / ISSUE 6 / UIF:8.2 / MODERNSCIENCE.UZ Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan adopted Resolution No. 73 on February 18, 1999, titled “On Measures of the State Program to Strengthen the Role of Women in the Construction of Family, State, and Society, and to Improve the System of Protecting Their Legal, Social, Economic, and Spiritual Interests.” Following this, the Governor of Surxondaryo Region issued Resolution No. 68 on March 1, 1999, regarding the implementation of the program. Of particular importance are also the Cabinet of Ministers’ Resolution No. 117 dated March 17, 1999, “On Preferential Taxation of the Income of Women Working in Extremely Harmful and Heavy Working Conditions,” and the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan “On Additional Benefits for Women,” among others3. Additionally, on May 4, 1999, the Cabinet of Ministers adopted Resolution No. 212 titled “On Measures to Promote the Production and Sale of Goods for Children’s and Women’s Hygiene,” which also played an important role in the development of the sector4.Recommendations were developed for the promotion and dissemination of the meaning and content of these laws and resolutions. Propaganda and outreach groups consisting of the regional women’s committee, city and district women’s committees, organization leaders, legal experts, and active women were established, and explanatory work was carried out at the local level5. For example, to ensure the implementation of Resolution No. 117 dated March 17, 1999, “On Preferential Taxation of the Income of Women Working in Extremely Harmful and Heavy Working Conditions,” Resolution No. 94 of the Surxondaryo Regional Administration was adopted on March 30, 19996. A large number of measures were defined and their implementation ensured within the framework of these resolutions. In the region, conditions were created to increase the income level of women working in difficult labor conditions, strengthen the protection of their economic interests, provide ti