Prime Minister Vladimir Putin met with Health and Social Development Minister Tatiana Golikova
Transcript of the beginning of the meeting:
Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon, Ms Golikova. Please be seated. How is the programme going? (The concept for population development through 2025).
Tatiana Golikova: It is going fine. Perhaps we can even now give tentative nine-month figures and speak of population trends for 2008.
Vladimir Putin: The birth rate is going up, is it?
Tatiana Golikova: Yes, the birth rate is on the rise. We do not yet have official figures from Rosstat for the first nine months, but with birth certificates already an established procedure, we can make some predictions based on this procedure. We expect that in the first nine months of 2008, 1,270,000 babies will be born, or up 8% over last year.
Vladimir Putin: What was last year's growth?
Tatiana Golikova: We had 1,602,000 babies born last year - a 16-year high. At this rate, by the end of 2008 we will have over 1,700,000. That will be another high. In 1991, our statistics recorded 1,794,000 births. And if we reach it, this will be one of the highest figures for the past 20 years.
Vladimir Putin: Ms Golikova, it is important that we all fulfill our obligations punctually. I am referring to birth certificates, assistance to mothers in raising children to a year and a half, and grants through the age of three. "Maternity Capital" must then be kept within the agreed upon budget, and indexed regularly. We have every facility for doing that, despite any global financial crises, and it is necessary that the process be monitored. That is my first point.
My second point is that nursery schools are becoming an increasingly urgent problem. I understand, of course, that this might not be your responsibility, nevertheless you must bear it in mind when working with your colleagues in the Government. And discuss it with the regions. We will consider it separately.
Tatiana Golikova: Okay. There is one more thing I would like to report to you: two weeks ago a government presidium met to discuss the fulfilment of your decree on providing the disabled with vehicles or cash compensation. I wish to tell you that we have held a tender which has been won by AvtoVAZ. It will supply 17,388 VAZ-2107 Ladas this year - 53% more than were supplied as of May 9, 2008. Deliveries will begin November 20 and will be completed by December 5.
At the same time, on Friday, we remitted money to regional budgets and social welfare agencies to be paid as compensation to citizens who have opted for cash rather than the car. The amount involved is 100,000 roubles. Of the targeted group set for 2008, as many as 11,280 chose cash compensation. Accordingly, 1,144,000,000 roubles have been allocated. And if the regions are ready, and they must be ready because all preparations have been completed, payments will begin any time now and be completed by December 31, 2008.
But in view of the fact that this targeted group is, unfortunately, dwindling all the time, we will not demand unpaid money from the regions back. A law on the budget will introduce a rule - applicable in 2008 and carried into 2009 - according to which this money can be used as payments to citizens qualified for cash compensation or a car in 2009. I hope that will help us achieve our aims a bit earlier than planned.
Vladimir Putin: Good. In Soviet times, a VAZ-2107 was considered almost a luxury car.
Tatiana Golikova: People were very pleased, Mr Putin, when they were handed the cars on May 9. They did not expect them to be a VAZ-2107. They were used to getting an Oka. The new cars go the Oka one better. I mean to say this is an entirely different level of quality, and because it concerns elderly people living in Russia's regions, they are more than just pleased, they are very grateful.
Vladimir Putin: Well, thank God. That's a fine reward for us. Let people rejoice.
