Hoadedhoo Association for Development (HAD) in collaboration with Maldives Youth Action Network (MYAN) had conducted a seminar to aware people on decentralization and get public opinion on the proposed decentralization bill to the People’s Majlis. In
the opening speech by HAD’s Director General Mr. Ahmed Ameez said that the role of NGOs is vital in democratization process and NGOs can act as a link to deliver the pulse of people and their opinions on various issues to the government and parliamentarians.
The first session was on impor
tance of decentralization for the rural development and the session was facilitated by HAD’s Executive director Mr. Imad Mohamed. Imad emphasized on elements of decentralization, types of decentralization, levels of decentralization and challenges to rural development. He said that decentralization will bring positive changes to the islands and atolls.
The second session was aimed to get public opinion on various articles in the proposed decentralization bill to the parliament. The session mainly focused on island councils, atoll cou
ncils and local council authority. People presented at the seminar expressed their views and suggestions on various articles in the bill. This session was facilitated by HAD’s Assistant Executive Director Mr. Mohamed Mauroof.
After the sessions facilitators answered the questions by the participants. The opinions and suggestions acquired from the seminar will be passed on to the parliamentarians.