GRODNO, 23 December (BelTA) - Belarus has curtailed not a single social program, Belarus' Deputy Prime Minister Natalya Kochanova told reporters as she met with staff of Conte Spa company in Grodno, BelTA has learned.
In 2016 and in the next five-year period Belarus will continue to evolve as a social state which prioritizes care for people, Natalia Kochanova stressed. All state social programs which end this year will be continued despite economically difficult times. The concepts of the state programs for 2016-2020 have been altered but not drastically, she noted.
According to her, in the previous period pensions or allowances were paid in time. If a company got into arrears the state assumed its responsibilities and made social payments.
The Deputy Prime Minister stressed that the previous programs proved to be effective. For example, demographic security actions resulted in an increase in Belarus' population by more than 13,000. As of 1 October, the country's population made up 9,494,200. It is important to continue working on narrowing the demographic entrapment, Natalya Kochanova noted. Further steps will be taken to provide support to families, to stimulate the birthrate.
At the meeting Natalia Kochanova answered questions from employees, most of whom were women. They were primarily concerned about support to large families, medical care, school education, housing issues. When in Grodno, the Vice Premier will also visit the Institute of Biochemistry of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, Grodno puppet theater and the regional clinical perinatal center.
