Planning & Development  

Human Resources Development Strategy » Social Sector

In view of the necessity of achieving social balance and based on the concept that the human being is the centre and the goal of the development process the First Long Term Development Strategy (1970-1995) strived to accomplish a qualitative change in the life of individuals and their welfare. Therefore the said strategy awarded utmost attention to education and training and health sectors. It also worked towards achieving a suitable income for population and protecting the low income groups against poverty through broadening the social welfare umbrella and extending assistance to a number of families. It also worked through its economic and fiscal policies to decease the income distribution differentials and securing that all population benefit from development and maintain the achievements realized, specially those accomplished in the basic services area.

The Vision envisaged the development of the community and enhancing popular participation in the development of local communities. It also aimed at supporting training in the social fields, upgrading the status of women and facilitating their integration into the social development. The Vision also strived to improve the Omani child status through provision of education and meeting the child needs. In addition the Vision sought supporting the social security system and the coordination between its establishments and adoption of protected production workshops for handicapped and raising awareness about the disability issues.

The important objectives of the Vision for the social affairs sector are the following:

• Accomplishing social security and limiting the spread of negative phenomena such as beggary and delinquencies.

• Up grading the small-scale income generating projects.

• Broadening the base of beneficiaries from the handicapped programmes and services and ensure upgrading the quality of these services and integrating the handicapped into services and activities of the community.

• Continuance of the gradual expansion of the local community's development programmes to reach the rural and desert areas.

• Establishing information and statistics database for women and children.

• Brooding the base of the women voluntary social work in terms of numbers and geographical spread and provide material and technical support to it.

• Upgrading the women societies' performance.

• Establishing bases for cooperation among government and private sector units and women societies.

• Increasing the efficiency of the employees in the social field.

• Encouraging private sector to establish nursery schools in the different regions of the Sultanate.