of a village are organized in committees and ensure their decisive role both as beneficiaries and participants in the decision making process. They actively participate in the process of identifying the land potential and screening of applicants. This has ensured the sense of belongings and encourages farmers to manage their land properly. 272. The equity in land distribution and management is also been guaranteed. Data so far shows that 32% is distributed to female-headed households. Women are gaining more independence in the economic life of the household and the society. Particular focus is also been made on orphans in order to ensure their economic and social rights. In urban areas, citizens have the right to access land for business and residential purposes. There is no discrimination in the distribution process. However, there is disparity between the number of applicants and the number of plots ready to be allotted to users. To address this problem the government has prepared a computerized prioritization management system to facilitate the screening process. So far, 33,375 in urban and 70,464 in rural areas applicants have got the right to access to land for residential purposes. Furthermore, 5,869 plots of land have been allotted for business and industrial purposes and 3,385 plots of land for commercial agricultural farming, Development Targeting Scattered Communities and villages 273. Eritrea has pastoralist and semi-pastoralist communities as well as very small settlements established in scattered areas in particular in the regions of Anseba, Gash Barka, Northern Red Sea and Southern Red Sea. This is a challenge to the promotion of improved livelihood, agriculture and livestock development and provision of adequate social services. Furthermore, it influences the ongoing effort to promote equal right and opportunities. In the last 15 years effort has been ongoing to address this issue and the result achieved so far is promising though limited in scope. The implementation of the policy is, however, indicative of the effort to transform the livelihood of the disadvantaged communities. 274. The on-going progress in one of the above four regional administrations (Anseba Region) can be taken as representative for the effort and the initial progress achieved. In this Region, four sub regions are targeted and the following action has been accomplished:-   Kerkebet Sub Region – A master plan for settling and empowering 2000 families in a place calle Himbol Qechech is initiated and already 700 families from one of the targeted areas given parcels of land, water service installed and a solar panel system established. There is an elementary school, a health center and ongoing housing construction. Furthermore, 685 farmers have settled in Amalayit village each being given 5 Ha of land and are now self-sufficient and raised their income level by supplying nearby markets. Selia Sub Region – 15 million ERN invested to build 152 houses (450 sq. m. for each family) and social service infrastructure of school, health center and water supply is in process. The ERN 4.4. million project on water provision is also nearing completion Page 68 of 100