President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has revealed that the aim of his administration is to fully empower and equip local councils to serve their constituencies better.

The president said this in his opening remarks at the first session of the “Viavathi Raajje” conference held in Ukulhas Island of Alif Alif Atoll on Saturday.

As such, speaking to the attendees as the chair of the session, the president noted that he aims to empower local councils to fulfil the development needs of their respective constituencies.

Noting that more action is required to refine and strengthen decentralized governance even further, the president stated that the administration is currently providing block grants to local councils and assisting them in increasing their income in a bid to improve their financial status.

However, he shed light on the concerns of local councils in acquiring the funds and the challenges to utilize the funds within their respective jurisdictions.

The first session, themed around the administration’s efforts to ensure the fiscal autonomy of local councils, also featured presentations on the administration’s efforts to combat the drug trade and gang-related crimes, the islands platform which tracks the progress of PSIP projects and the social welfare programme "Ibama."

The session also saw the Maldives Police Service (MPS) offering insight on crime prevention efforts across the entire nation.

This comes at a time the president earlier convened a special task force to combat drug offences.

Attendees at the session targeted questions for the government and detailed discussions were also held regarding their concerns.

The president also announced his decision to ensure atoll councils are the beneficiaries of the rent proceeds of the "Atholhu Fihaara" shops designated for each atoll in the congested capital, Malé City.

In May 2019, the incumbent administration reversed the decision taken in 2014, that barred atoll councils from the said funds.

The first session was joined by Minister of Finance Ibrahim Ameer, Minister of Economic Development Fayyaz Ismail, Minister of Fisheries, Marine Resources and Agriculture Dr. Hussain Rasheed Hassan; Minister of Environment, Climate Change and Technology Aminath Shauna and Special Advisor on Social Policy at the President’s Office Dr. Mustafa Lutfi.