Health insurance has been provided to 95% of the nomadic population in the country, and 30% are under the coverage of the Social Security Organization, said Karamali Ghandali, head of Iran Nomad Affairs Organization.
Ghandali who visited the nomadic areas of Gonbad-e-Kavoos and Maraveh Tappeh counties, Golestan Province, said the government had recently sanctioned new funds and financial facilities for nomadic societies.
“Nearly $34 million ‘Qarzol-Hasaneh’ (non-usury microcredit) at an interest rate of 4%, plus a $27-million budget has been allocated for nomadic projects,” he told IRNA.
The loans will be provided for setting up manufacturing units, purchasing agricultural tools and launching water projects and are repayable over five years. The amount is expected to be spent on nomadic societies and projects for their welfare by the end of the fiscal year (ends March 19).
Ghandali and his delegation visited nomadic and semi-nomadic populations as well as women’s crafts workshops, a livestock sale field and a calf fattening program.
Farideh Aqi from Kerend region of Gonbad-e-Kavoos, was awarded a commendation prize for being an exemplary nomadic woman.
Golestan Province is home to over 1,500 Turkmen semi-nomadic families who own around 360,000 sheep. Plus, nearly 2,000 Kurdish nomadic families from North Khorasan and Khorasan Razavi provinces with 400,000 livestock spend the winter season in the province.
Holding 25% of the total number of sheep in the province, Golestan nomads, both Turkmen and Kurdish, annually produce 4,500 tons of meat, 13,600 tons of milk and 380 tons of whey.
