Uzbekistan is relaunching the widely discussed '10 Thousand Steps' public health campaign, shifting away from previous monetary incentives toward a new competitive framework. While the initial iteration of the program involved direct cash transfers for daily physical activity, the updated system relies on an annual ranking format where top-performing citizens will receive valuable prizes instead of money.

The regulatory framework for the revamped initiative was adopted on October 28 through a joint decree issued by the National Committee for Ecology and Climate Change, the Ministry of Sports, the Ministry of Digital Technologies, and the Ministry of Health. To participate, citizens must be at least 18 years old, register via the unified identification system id.egov.uz on the 'Eco-Active Citizen' platform, and install a dedicated mobile application that tracks steps using built-in smartphone sensors.

Rankings will be compiled at the end of a full year, with eligibility restricted to individuals who consistently achieve a minimum threshold of 10,000 steps daily. Winners will be recognized regionally across Karakalpakstan, Tashkent, and various provinces, as well as nationwide. The awards ceremony will take place annually during the third decade of December, with gifts financed through the specialized state ecological fund attached to the ecology committee.

To prevent potential fraud and manipulation, authorities have introduced strict anti-cheating protocols. Participants are strictly prohibited from utilizing foreign accounts, treadmills, cars, bicycles, or scooters to artificially inflate their step counts. Any detected irregularities will result in immediate disqualification and annulment of results. It is worth noting that the original cash-payout program was completely canceled in 2022 following funding shortages.

Source: podrobno.uz