Demographics and Ecology: Two Vital Planks of Putin’s Domestic Platform to Support Ordinary Russians
Environmental issues in industrial cities, the preservation of the Volga River and Lake Baikal, and the use of natural gas as gasoline — this was on the agenda of Vladimir Putin's meeting with the government today. Speaking of natural disasters, the president demanded constant control measures to help people in the flooded areas. Another major issue was the demographic policy, in particular, state support of families with children.
Pavel Zarubin has the details.
This family from Volgograd covered kindergarten tuition for their daughters a year in advance. Now maternity capital benefits can be spent on this too.
Anna Savelieva: "In May, Ksyusha will also go to kindergarten, which we'll pay for with maternity capital benefits too".
Over the past several months, the birth rate has soared in 18 regions. It was fueled, among other things, by the President's recent demographic policy decisions. Today, in Novo-Ogaryovo, Vladimir Putin asked Deputy PM Golodets for a status report on the policy's implementation.
Vladimir Putin: "Families with modest incomes are now eligible for a monthly cash benefit in the amount of a child's subsistence minimum based on regional norms, which average approximately 11,000 rubles. And there are two additional opportunities for using maternity capital: a benefit payment for a second child will be paid out with maternity capital, and benefits for preschool for children from two months old. How are these new tools, mechanisms, and opportunities being used?"
Deputy PM Olga Golodets: "The measure most highly in demand is the first child allowance. Some 27,965 families are already getting this money. This is good support for young families".
To provide clean air and a good environment for newborns and other Russian citizens, 300 major enterprises will have to switch to tougher regulations in the next several years. The first to feel the changes will be the citizens of the cities where nobody has bothered about environmental issues since the USSR. Smoke belching out of chimneys has become the symbol of a strong industry and a damaged environment.
Vladimir Putin: "Bratsk, Krasnoyarsk, Lipetsk, Magnitogorsk, Mednogorsk, Nizhny Tagil, Novokuznetsk, Norilsk, Omsk, Chelyabinsk, Cherepovets, and Chita. The largest emissions into the atmosphere have been detected there. I also asked you to pay attention to the enterprises that dump untreated sewage into the Volga River and Lake Baikal. We agreed to launch a new program in 2019 introducing a new system of environmental regulation".
It won't only mean improving the environment, but also modernizing industries.
Vladimir Putin: "Are you planning to have any more delays?"
Denis Manturov, Trade Minister: "No, we are not".
Vladimir Putin: "Alright, we'll take your word for it".
Environmental regulations for motor vehicles are turning on a dime too. It is known to be the main polluter of the atmosphere. The number of electric cars is increasing globally. But Russia has its own competitive advantages.
Vladimir Putin: “In our country, the use of gas as a motor fuel appears to be preferable; environmental issues are one of the reasons because you need to produce electricity before you can use it. A considerable part of electricity is produced at coal-fired plants. It is a major element which few people take into account.”
Such meetings always discuss major recent events. Floods have invaded the country. The sudden warming made huge snow piles in the center of Russia melt quickly. Now it's raining, and forecasters say it will snow again. In such conditions, response teams must be on alert. Thousands of units of equipment have been deployed; rescuers supply people with everything they need. Since the flooding began, more than 400 settlements have been flooded.
A local resident: "Water is everywhere, in all the streets".
The President ordered that all means available are used to help those affected. Mr. Medvedev, I ask the Government to keep this under control. Of course, Mr. President. According to EMERCOM's estimates, 18,000 people have been affected by the flooding.
Pavel Zarubin, Anton Kasimovich, Evgeny Petrukhin, Valery Glushakov and Pyotr Ravnov for Vesti.