Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — A pilot project has been launched in Tashkent, Samarkand, and Andijan to provide discounted taxi rides for children with disabilities attending specialized schools and boarding schools. The project is being implemented by the National Social Protection Agency under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan in cooperation with Yandex Uzbekistan.

As part of the initiative, children with disabilities will be able to use taxis for trips to and from their educational institutions. The government will reimburse transportation expenses, which can amount to up to 1.2 times the base calculation amount (450,000 soums) per child per month. The reimbursement can cover between 60% and 100% of the cost of the ride, depending on the terms of the benefit.

Representatives of the National Social Protection Agency emphasized that the project aims to create equal conditions for all children, regardless of their health. "We are consistently creating conditions in which every child has equal access to education and social life. This project is not just a solution to transportation issues, but an important support measure aimed at strengthening the confidence of families, improving the quality of life, and encouraging the participation of children with disabilities in the educational process," the agency stated.

Rides can be ordered via the Yandex Go mobile app, which offers special options such as "Will be with a wheelchair" or "Help find a car." Drivers receiving notifications about such orders will be ready to provide the necessary assistance. Yandex Go does not profit from these rides: all funds reimbursed by the government go directly to the drivers, and no commission is charged on the orders.

Izat Shukurov, head of Yandex Uzbekistan, noted that the company seeks to address people's problems with technology and make services accessible to everyone. "Contributing to the improvement of urban infrastructure and its accessibility aligns with these values," he said.

Participants in the program can include children with disabilities who have difficulty moving independently, such as children with visual impairments, musculoskeletal disorders, or severe forms of intellectual disabilities. Detailed terms for providing the benefits are outlined in Decree No. 132 of February 28, 2025, "On Improving Educational Conditions for Children with Special Educational Needs."

Quality control and feedback will be handled by the call center of the State Unitary Enterprise "Center for Information Technologies" under the Agency. The list of program participants is being compiled in the "Unified National Social Protection" information system, which contains data about students and their legal representatives.

This project is an important step towards creating an accessible urban environment that ensures every child can safely and comfortably reach school.