Prime Minister meets leaders of the Women's Union of Russia.
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin met with the activists of the Women's Union of Russia on the day of its 20th anniversary. After exchanging greetings and congratulations, he discussed a number of important mutual concerns.
"Naturally, the first rather serious issue is women's labour rights," Putin said. "The second, as you know, is our large social programme that focuses on women and children."
The third issue, according to Putin, involves popular support, which, he said, is his concern as much as the union's.
"I'm talking about families with many children, parentless children, orphanages, etc," he explained.
The prime minister focused specifically on two important social benefits designed to support mothers and children: birth certificates and maternity capital. The birth certificate benefit has been increased by 63%, he said.
"This is in addition to the indexation of maternity capital every year, just as we promised," he said. "Such capital now amounts to 343,000 roubles and will reach 365,000 roubles in 2011."
The prime minister claimed that hundreds of thousands of people have already taken advantage of their right to use this money for mortgage payments.
"We will index every child benefit starting January 1, 2011," he said.
Yekaterina Lakhova, head of the Women's Union, told the prime minister that the organisation had experienced an unusual year.
"Women's organisations consider 2010 to be a crucial year because the president has mentioned birth certificates – a rather unusual development – and obstetric aid, which is being discussed at such a high state level for the first time," Lakhova explained.
The main points of the prime minister's address were a review of related government measures over the past five, six, or even seven years. "We approved a programme, followed by two others. Each step is a continuation of the previous one. I don't have to remind you that the nationwide demographic situation was quite severe. It appeared that we would never emerge from this demographic slump. We didn't think we could do it," he said.
According to Putin, nearly 150 billion roubles will be spent on children over the next two years.
"Our prenatal clinics provide women with medicines free of charge," said Lakhova, returning to the previous subject.
"Medicines and vitamins," Putin prompted her.
"And vitamins," Lakhova nodded enthusiastically.
Andrei Lvov