16.01.09

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Minister of Public Health and Social Development Tatyana Golikova discussed issues of demographic policy and measures to support motherhood and children, at a meeting in the Kremlin on Tuesday.

Golikova informed the president that her Ministry had practically finalized the documents providing the opportunity to use the so-called maternity capital (a lumpsum allowance paid to young mothers) to pay interest on mortgage loans.

The mechanism of using "maternity capital" for this purpose might be launched as early as January.

"I believe we'll get the procedure going in January," Golikova said.

The relevant bill was passed in late 2008.

It was drawn pursuant to the instruction by Prime Minister Vladimir Putin: during a hot line with Russian citizens on December 4, he demanded that the authorities work through the issue of using "maternity capital" for improving housing conditions, starting January 2009, instead of January 2010.

Last year, Russia issued 824,000 maternity capital certificates. Its initial sum was 250,000 roubles, but it is adjusted annually for inflation.

The minister paid special attention to the operation of the Children Support Foundation that was set up in the spring of 2008.

The Foundation intends to allocate 5.2 billion roubles for events in 2009. Assistance to children will come from other sources as well. "We're attracting funds of Russian regions and sponsor organizations. A meeting with all Russian regions will be held later this month to "orient them toward the events to be implemented by this Foundation," Golikova said.

Grants will be one of the forms of support of children who have found themselves in a difficult situation. The Foundation closely interacts with the Interior Ministry which provides to it the necessary information, according to the minister.

Medvedev underlined that the Foundation should continue to function in the future.

Summing up the results of the demographic policy, Golikova noted "very positive birth rate indicators."

In 2008, 1.7 million babies were born in t he country, up 100,000 from the previous year," she said.

"Positive trends associate with the generation of the 1980s. They are second and third children born to mature families," she explained.

Last year, the number of families to which twins and triplets were born increased by 25 percent.

A new family support program for 2009-2011 is being worked out at present.

Medvedev, in comments on the demographic situation in the situation, said the measures to improve it are yielding positive results.

"Some time ago, we worked through the concept of a long-term demographic development concept. So far, everything this been within the boundaries we've mapped out. It's gratifying. The information on birth rate dynamics of the generation of the 1980s shows that "people accept the stimuli and mechanisms in the sphere of demographic policy," the president said.

"Despite economic difficulties, it is necessary to keep the indicators" in the field of demography. To this end, we have to continue the implementation of the measures of state support of the family and maternity and work out new ones," Medvedev said.

Earlier on Tuesday, he awarded the first "Parents Glory" Orders during a ceremony in the Kremlin.

He promised to actively develop the measures to support motherhood and children.

"The Year of Family in Russia showed that the measures of the demographic policy had been selected correctly," the head of state said.

"We were hoping for a higher birth rate, and statistics show that our calculations were correct. In 2007, the birth rate increased by more than 8 percent, and in 2008 by 7 percent. More than 75,000 children have been adopted in the designated period," the president said.

"We'll be actively developing measures of social support of maternity and children and continue to support the prestige of family values in all ways. I'm sure all this will yield results, which is of utmost importance, regardless of the economic or political situation," Medvedev said.

The president congratulated the first laureates of the Parents Glory Order and thanked them for their work.

"We've earned this top away by tirelessly caring for the children, giving them everything you can - love, warmth and attention," he said.

"There are almost 1.5 million large families in Russia, and every sixth child is being brought up in such a family," the president recalled.

"By your attitude to the upbringing of children you give a natural example to the whole society and continue the centuries-old special traditions of parental service in our country," Medvedev said.

"You probably give the main thing which every person needs - a basis for normal human life and confidence in the outlook for the future, while a well-faring parents' house gives the children direct experience of a normal happy, full-fledged and successful life," the head of state emphasized.

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Source: Itar-Tass