President Muizzu Announces Salary and Ramadan Benefits for Women’s Development Committee Members

In a significant move for gender equality and local development, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has revealed plans to amend the Decentralisation Act, ensuring that members of Women's Development Committees (WDCs) will receive designated salaries and Ramadan allowances.

Currently, WDC members are not salaried employees, which has created challenges in securing loans or accessing benefits such as the annual Ramadan allowance. This longstanding issue, which has left many WDC members feeling undervalued despite their full-time commitments to island development, will finally be addressed through the amendments, set to come into effect next year.

Speaking during his ongoing tour of Alifu Dhaalu Atoll, President Muizzu acknowledged the crucial role WDCs play in local development and vowed to resolve these issues by submitting the necessary amendments to Parliament during its upcoming session. He emphasized that these changes would be implemented without resorting to printing money, ensuring a sustainable approach to prosperity for all citizens.

In the same address, the President highlighted the importance of addressing Dhan'gethi’s harbour limitations. He outlined plans for the island’s harbour development, which will begin next year and is expected to be completed by 2026. This project aims to enhance economic growth, ease access to the island, and boost the island’s local tourism sector. With plans to increase tourist bed capacity to 600 over the next two years, the new harbour will be vital for supporting tourism, as well as addressing the island’s erosion issues.

Additionally, the President announced plans for a housing initiative on Dhan'gethi, set for 2026, along with the development of a cultural centre and a waste management system, further enhancing the island’s infrastructure and quality of life for its residents. These initiatives reflect the government’s commitment to fostering long-term community and economic growth across the country.