The National Programme of the President of Turkmenistan for the improvement of social and living conditions in villages, towns in etraps and etrap centres until 2020 initiated by Hero Arkadag and often called the Village National Programme was successfully implemented since its adoption in 2007, including the implementation of complex measures in different segments of the social sphere and engineering infrastructure to improve social and living conditions of the population. The Programme covered many areas of the Sustainable Development Goals proclaimed at the 70th Session of the UN General Assembly in September 2015. These were mainly the areas linked with Goal 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all at all ages, Goal 4: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all, Goal 6: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all, Goal 7: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy services, Goal 9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation, Goal 10: Reduce inequality within and among countries and Goal 11: Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.
At the enlarged meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers on June 8, 2022, the Social and Economic Development Programme of the President of Turkmenistan in 20222028 and the National Programme of the President of Turkmenistan for the improvement of social and living conditions in villages, towns in etraps and etrap centres until 2028 were approved. The National Programme sets forth the new complex measures to close the gap between urban and rural development in terms of living conditions, as well as the goals, objectives and main areas to improve significantly living conditions of the population. The main goals and objectives of the Programme include the significant improvement of living conditions in villages and small towns, assistance in social development of rural settlements, towns and etrap centres and reforms of the utility systems. Geographically, the Programme covers villages, towns in etraps and etrap centres in all the velayats of the country.
