Life of most of Almaty residents improved during independence years

According to a survey of the public mood made by the Kazakhstan Association of Sociologists, over 80 percent of Almaty residents say that their life has improved during the years of independence, KazTAG reports citing Director of Phylosophy and Politiligy Institute of the Science Commission of Kazakhstan Ministry of Education and Science Zarema Shaukenova. “81 percent of city residents noted that their life improved in general in the 20 years of independence. 28.7 percent of them confidently replied that their life improved and 52.3 percent replied that the life conditions became ‘sort of better’. 77.5 percent of respondents managed to overcome difficulties of the transition stage and improve their life conditions,” Shaukenova said at the scientific conference called Independent Kazakhstan: Present and Future. At the same time, according to Shukenova, the majority of respondents called Kazakhstan to follow its national development path. “This shows that the values of independence have anchored themselves in the social mind and the citizens now better realize the importance of freedom and opportunity to move aong our own path,” she said. According to the poll, qualified majority of Almaty residents relate the country’s success to the President's achievements. “37 of respondents link the country’s achievements only with the efforts of the President. 38 percent of respondents, confirming the achievements of the President, also noted the importance of such things as luck and good set of circumstances,” Shaukenova said. Almaty residents, according to the poll, are grateful to the President for moving the capital to Astana, stating that life in Almaty is anyway better that in other regions. “The majority of Almaty residents are thankful to the President’s decision to move the capital to Astana: 72 percent. Every fourth of them support the decision to move the capital. The majority of respondents note that life in Almaty is ‘much better’ or just ‘better’ than in other regions: 79 percent. Around 78 percent of respondents say that the President pays sufficient attention to the city,” Shaukenova said. According to the poll, Almaty residents are positive about activities of the city administration. 75 percent of respondents positively replied to the question ‘Do activities of Almaty administration comply with the programs of the President and the government?’ According to Shaukenova, all this helps Almaty residents achieve new results and confidently celebrate the 20th anniversary of the country’s independence.