MINSK, 15 May (BelTA) - Chairwoman of the Council of the Republic Natalya Kochanova met with members of the Belarusian Association of Parents of Many Children, BelTA has learned.
"Traditionally, on the International Day of Families we meet with parents of many children and, of course, always talk about the issues and problems that large families face. First of all, I would like to with Happy Family Day to all those who raise children. After all, what can be more important in a person's life than a strong family, good children who make you happy?” Natalya Kochanova said. “Today, the state is doing a lot to support large families. These are benefits, housing, family capital program, the opportunity to visit various hobby clubs and sport schools. Whenever we meet with representatives of the association, they say that it is very significant support."
“Families raising children enjoy great support in Belarus . Not every state can boast of such policy. But there is no limit to perfection. It was suggested we now pay more attention to families with one child, and this is 65% of families in our country. We also talked about ways to encourage the birth of a second child. They were many proposals. But in general, I would like to say that families are grateful to the state for the support,” Natalya Kochanova said.
There are more than 112,000 large families in Belarus, over 16,000 of them live in Minsk, Chairwoman of the Belarusian Association of Parents of Many Children Tatiana Kravchenko said. “Fifteen years ago, there were less than 3,000 large families in the capital and around 50,000 in the country. We see that their number grew dramatically in quite a short period of time. Why? Firstly, thanks to housing development programs for large families at a preferential 1% loan for 40 years. This enables large families to build housing. Secondly, thanks to the family capital program launched in 2015. Earlier, large families could use family capital only once the child turns 18, but now they are allowed to use it ahead of due time to pay for housing, education, of medical services. Plans are in place to expand the list of options to use family capital ahead of due time. The proposal has already been submitted to the president,” Tatiana Kravchenko noted.
The Belarusian Association of Parents of Many Children was established in 1995. It includes 15 district, city, and regional organizations. As of 1 January 2021, it included 3,641 members. The main goal of the organization is to provide social protection and material support to large families and to raise the status of large families in the society.
Photos by Oksana Manchuk
