Agenda: improvement of the system of social aid to pensioners, support for enterprises that have temporarily suspended operations in border regions, subsidies to regions for the construction of water supply systems.
Mikhail Mishustin's opening remarks:
Government meeting
Good afternoon, colleagues.
We shall commence this Government meeting with the matter of the social treasury. Pursuant to the President's instructions, the Government is actively implementing mechanisms to enable individuals to access state aid in a convenient, swift, and automatic manner, obviating the need for applications.
Let us deliberate on amendments to the legislation concerning the allocation of allowances to non-working pensioners whose incomes fall below the regional subsistence minimum.
The Social Fund currently provides federal allowances when the subsistence minimum in a Russian constituent entity is below the national average. If it surpasses the national average, regional allowances are determined by local social protection authorities. This process is automatic, requiring no application submissions. We are co-financing such expenditures from the federal budget.
The proposed bill seeks to transfer the authority to allocate and disburse regional allowances to the Social Fund, thereby ensuring a uniform and transparent procedure nationwide.
The principle of calculating allowances remains unchanged. Citizens will not be required to submit additional applications, certificates, or documents. They will continue to receive their entitled funds in full.
Enhancing the system of state support is imperative, with an emphasis on public feedback, a point consistently underscored by the President.
The subsequent matter also pertains to regional support.
The President has highlighted the necessity of a prompt response to issues in the Belgorod, Bryansk, and Kursk regions.
The residents and businesses in these border areas require immediate assistance. The Government has already allocated resources for citizen payments to facilitate the acquisition of essential items they lack.
Additionally, we have initiated a mechanism to establish a free economic zone for private companies in specific territories, granting them privileges on profit tax, property tax, and insurance contributions.
However, certain enterprises and individual entrepreneurs have been compelled to suspend operations due to circumstances beyond their control. For the period of inactivity from August to December of this year, they will have the opportunity to apply to the public employment service for a monthly subsidy.
To partially offset the labour costs for such organisations, we will allocate over one billion roubles, as directed by the President.
We believe that such public financing will support individuals in the border regions, reduce corporate costs, and preserve production facilities and employment.
Turning to the decision aimed at enhancing the provision of quality potable water to regional inhabitants, this is a vital factor for the health and improved living standards of our citizens.
To this end, we shall continue to aid Russian regions in upgrading and developing essential utility infrastructure.
Pursuant to the President's instruction, the Government will allocate nearly 400 million roubles to establish modern centralised water supply systems.
Most of the resources will be allocated to the Republic of Kalmykia, recognised as the driest territory in the country, necessitating special attention from both regional and federal authorities.
During a recent working visit to this region, we conducted detailed discussions on measures to establish an uninterrupted water supply, engaging with experts and representatives of the local community.
As a result of this funding, the reconstruction of the water main in the city of Elista will commence this year. Additionally, we shall initiate the large-scale construction of the main line extending from the regional capital to the village of Verkhny Yashkul.
We will also extend assistance to the Chuvash Republic, where, by the end of this year, work will be completed on several sections of water distribution networks in two residential areas.
Our commitment remains steadfast in progressively addressing the tasks of organising reliable water supply in all inhabited areas.
