These segments of the population need further assistance, and greater attention should be paid to their conditions, the Sovereign pointed out in a speech on the occasion of the 66th anniversary of the Revolution of the King and the People, adding that continued action is also required to respond to their pressing needs.
"For this reason, I have called, time and again, for measures to promote development in rural areas, through income-generating activities, employment opportunities, faster access to basic social services, in addition to school enrolment measures and initiatives to combat poverty and vulnerability," the Sovereign said.
HM the King noted, in this regard, that the ambitious national program to reduce disparities in rural areas, to which a budget of nearly 50 billion dirhams has been earmarked for the period 2016-2022, is part of that endeavor.
The populations concerned need, for their part, to be proactive in order to change their status in society and improve their living conditions, the monarch said.
One of the possibilities in this regard is to make sure they benefit from access to education, which is available throughout the country, and from vocational training opportunities and social welfare programs, HM the King explained.
"At the same time, all resources in rural areas should be tapped, particularly communal agricultural land (sulaliyat land), which l have asked to be used for the implementation of investment projects in the agricultural sector," the Sovereign added.
The monarch noted in this regard that government efforts on their own will not suffice to ensure the success of such a major operation.
Indeed, government efforts must be supported by private sector initiatives and projects to inject strong momentum into agricultural investment projects, jobs and services, particularly in rural areas, HM the King said, stressing the need for close coordination between the sectors concerned.
"In the same vein, we should make the most of the opportunities and possibilities offered in fields other than that of agriculture, such as rural tourism, commerce and local industry," the Sovereign stressed, adding that the aim is to boost and encourage private initiative and self-employment.