Yard Improvement: How Residents Successfully Created a Sports Area Despite Initial Rejections.

Residents of house No. 12 on Lashkarlars street in the Mirzo Ulughbek district have long sought the establishment of a sports ground. After reaching out to the virtual reception of government bodies, it took an additional two years of patience and correspondence for a modern workout area to appear in their courtyard.

The courtyard of the building, constructed back in the 1980s, was poorly equipped; there were some metal structures that vaguely represented a sports ground, but using them could easily lead to injury. Additionally, there were no conditions to meet the basic sanitary standards mandated by the legislation of the Republic of Uzbekistan – SanPiN RUz No. 0352-17.

The residents decided to improve the courtyard to provide children with activities and transform the area into a space for neighbors and their children to gather. Naturally, they first turned to two organizations that are supposed to address such issues – the homeowners' association and the mahalla committee. However, indifference from the management company (TCHS) and the mahalla committee proved insurmountable. They always found excuses not to resolve the problem.

Appeals to Local Authorities

Appeals regarding the creation of a favorable environment for residents were spontaneous. They were voiced at meetings in the district hokimiyat, with residents drawing attention to these issues during inspections by hokimiyat staff and its departments. Letters and calls were made, but to no avail. If one were to compile a list of all the responses, it would reveal a picture of bureaucratic indifference:– “Your appeal has been received; we have included suggestions in the work plan for the next year.”;– “Your appeal has been acknowledged; we have assessed the situation on site, and you will be informed of the resolution timelines additionally.”;– “Currently, the budget has been approved, and it is not possible to fulfill your request due to a lack of funding.”;– “Your appeal will be addressed within the framework of the 'Obod Mahalla' program.”;

– “Your request has been forwarded to the relevant department; they will contact you to clarify details.” Anyone who tried to reach out to the district hokimiyat or its departments received similar responses multiple times. The wording may vary, but all these replies share one common trait – they are typically just formal responses. In our case, there were at least two dozen requests and an equal number of bureaucratic replies.

Appeal to the Virtual Reception – Key Details

When residents realized that local self-government officials and the management company were indifferent to their requests, they submitted an appeal to the virtual reception, attaching all their previous requests and the responses received from officials. It is important to note that this time the appeal was written with legal precision, referencing laws, presidential and governmental decrees, and various regulations. The main focus was on the hygiene requirements for physical education and health zones as well as open sports facilities. Violations occurred not only in construction standards – mistakes and oversights were made even at the design stage. This not only reduced usability but also posed potential health and safety risks for people.

The appeal also listed the contacts of responsible individuals: the management company, the head of the mahalla, and the hokimiyat staff overseeing the “Obod Mahalla” project, who had been idle. Residents insisted on the necessity to adhere to standards and align the courtyard with legislative requirements. The correspondence, which took more than six months, was arduous, requiring clarifications, approvals, commissions, and inspections. However, now the courtyard boasts a sports area equipped with modern facilities that comply with all safety and sanitary standards.

In Conclusion…

Now, the courtyard on Lashkarlars street serves as an example of how persistence, the right approach, and a good understanding of legislation can lead to change. The sports ground benefits everyone, from young to elderly residents, and has already become a place for active recreation and interaction among the residents of the building.

An active civic stance, thorough study of laws before addressing government bodies, and dialogue with state authorities through the virtual reception using legal language can yield tangible benefits.

Appendices and Resources for Consumers

Law “On Appeals from Individuals and Legal Entities”

Law “On the Openness of the Activities of State Authorities and Administration”

Requirements “Hygienic Requirements for the Design and Operation of Sports Facilities”

Resources for Documenting Appeals:

Virtual Reception of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan

Service for Cooperation of City Services in Tashkent – Xalq Nazorat

Marat Smagin,

Columnist for Anhor.uz