Vladimir Putin was surprised by some rare praise for the healthcare and social development minister.
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin invited disability rights organisations to a meeting with the Popular Front. The meeting, which lasted three hours, brought hope to over 13 billion disabled people in Russia. Putin promised to resolve various issues, from installing hand controls in cars to training service dogs.
The prime minister admitted that despite substantial funding, Russia is far from being able to consider itself a country with a barrier-free environment for people with disabilities. The recent attempt to re-equip the Government House in order to make it an accessible environment nearly failed. The prime minister instructed his colleagues to work on this concept several weeks ago.
"They began working and then showed their initial results to people from disability organisations, only to find that they needed to redo everything. This is very telling. It's the first step that counts, however, and I'm sure that the government will go about everything in the proper way," Putin said.
Public Chamber member Vladimir Krupennikov told Putin that it has become very difficult for people with disabilities to obtain a special car. "We want to raise the issue of providing disabled people with cars, especially those who were injured in military service and the parents of disabled children. Removing cars from the list of rehabilitation equipment in 2005 effectively deprived disabled people of the opportunity to obtain a personalised car," Krupennikov told Izvestia.
Besides, even those who can afford getting a car themselves have to go through a very complicated procedure in order to register it. To confirm that the car is legally equipped with hand controls, the owner has to pass through a series of agencies. The prime minister was indignant about this situation, saying that even in business there is a one-window system, and ordered Deputy Interior Minister Viktor Kiryanov to resolve the problem.
According to Viktor Kiryanov, the problem could easily be resolved by licensing car service centres to install hand controls without requiring any additional certification of its compliance with safety standards.
Kiryanov is not the only one who is concerned about the problems of disabled people. Singer Diana Gurtskaya, who actively supports visually impaired children, showered Healthcare Minister Tatyana Golikova with effusive compliments.
"The problem is that it is impossible to implement the laws that have already been passed," she lamented. "But not in the case of the Health Ministry. Tatyana Golikova is a sincerely compassionate person who listens with her heart."
The prime minister, who regularly hears criticism of the healthcare minister's activity, was amazed by this assessment. "At least somebody has praised her," he said.
Ms Gurtskaya invited the prime minister to a charity concert on October 17 in St Petersburg, where disabled children will perform, including twin girls who have already met Vladimir Putin.
"You are sure the girls will perform there?" Putin asked. Gurtskaya nodded.
"Of course I will come," the prime minister said.
