Definition
• Improve the quality of housing: This includes materials used, the availability of a good kitchen and sanitary facilities indoors. Also size of the house in comparison with the number of people living in the house (crowdedness) is important.
• Availability of transport service: Including the availability of transport vessels on the island for emergency travel. The ease with which the island can be reached and the regularly and cost of transport to the atoll/island and Male’ is considered here.
• Availability of electricity: Even if electricity is available, the cost of electricity connection and use charges, and the hours of operation maybe problematic.
• Communication facilities: The availability of telephone for emergency needs is important. Postal services, newspapers and magazines, radio and television people to keep up with what is happening outside the island.
• Employment opportunities: This includes both employment on the island or resorts and improvements in selling various products such as fish, copra and other goods produced by the household to traders to earn an income.
• Possibilities to earn a good income: Direct employment, but also better prices for fish and other goods produced by the household are important factors. A regular, frequent sale of these products to
traders is another aspect.
• Food security all year around: The availability of sufficient food of good quality throughout the year is necessary to enjoy life.
• Environmental security: The sanitary and garbage disposal facilities on the island and the level of ground water pollution describe environmental conditions. Also the condition of the reef and erosion of the island are important.
• Availability of drinking water: Especially during the dry season, drinking water can be a big problem.
• Access to consumer goods: The availability of daily needs (food) at reasonable prices from a store on the island is important. A regular supply of other household goods on the island or atoll also affects living conditions.
• Access to health services/ improvements: The presence of a qualified medical staff and a midwife on the island are important. The ease with which a clinic or hospital in the atoll or Male’ can be reached is also important. The costs associated with illness (travel, medicines, treatment, etc) have also to be considered. If health care facilities are available on the island consider the quality and improvements.
• Access to quality education: The quality of education on the island schools and the presence of middle and high schools are important. Access to quality education of high schools in the atoll or Male’, (through relatives or family friends) and the cost of sending children to schools on the island are other issues.