Participants of the expanded session of the Government of the RK
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It has become a tradition to hold the open expanded session of the Government of republic in March in Karelia. This year was not an exception, on March 16 in the auditorium of the State Philarmonic Society there gathered more than 450 people from all regions of the republic, and under the presidency of the Head of Karelia Sergey Katanandov there have been brough results of work done last year, tasks in view on the future have been set. Prime minister of the republic Pavel Chernov reported about work of the government.
P.Chernov, S.Katanandov and V.Shmykov in the presidium
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In 2006 two thirds of the budget of Karelia had been spent for social sphere. Proceeding from it, the Prime minister has cardinally changed structure of his annual report. On the first place there came out social tasks, performance of priority national projects, examples of specific programs focused on solution of problems disturbing the population. Pavel Chernov has considered economic growth and industrial issues in second turn only, and has coordinated them to necessity of reception of additional incomes for the budget for solution of urgent problems.
In his report the Prime minister has noted that in 2006 increase in wages of employees of state-financed organisations has been made twice, and within recent years in the republic there is almost no delayed debts on payment of wages to state employees. Due to budget of the RK monthly additional payments to the most poorly-paid employees of state-financed organisations were made. This measure was applied to more than 24 thousand workers which payment is under 1-5 categories of the Uniform scale of wages.
In 2006 the monthly average wages have grown by 21% and exceeded 10,7 thousand roubles. In branches of social sphere the wages expanded at a fast rate, especially in public health services.
Last year there have been constructed or repaired such objects as the Republican Palace of physical culture, Spartak central republican stadium, Zavodskaya street, trolleybus route in Drevlyanka microdistrict, hospital in Sortavala, etc. With attraction of means from the federal budget there have been financed 25 building sites: Pryazha-Lemetti motorway, Suoperä international automobile check point; the 2nd construction stage of the academic-laboratory building of Petrozavodsk State University; objects of Kizhi open-air museum, Puppet Theatre in Petrozavodsk, and other objects.
Housing construction became more active in the republic. One of factors of increase in construction became the mortgage. Citizens received more than 1.1 thousand hypothecary credits, that exceeds the level of the year 2004 2.6 times.
Speaking of economy, Pavel Chernov ascertained that there are positive changes in all branches of economy, and further economic growth is provided. In a year it has been used 17,2 billion roubles of investments (7% growth). The volume of foreign investments in 2006 has made $288 million, that exceeds the level of 2005 almost twice. Index of production has made 103%.
Besides the Prime minister at the session there spoke the Legislative Assembly of Karelia Chairman Nikolay Levin, leader of republican trade unions Gennady Grishunin, heads of municipalities, heads of establishments of culture, medicine and education, directors of the industrial enterprises, and others. The spokepersons assessed activity of the Government in the past year and mentioned key problems in the branches on which solution it is necessary to work in common.
Head of Karelia Sergey Katanandov made concluding remarks. In his statement he has noted that in the near future in Russia and in Karelia it is necessary to increase wages of employees of state-financed organisations sharply. Simultaneously with reform of payments in budgetary sphere, it is necessary to begin modernization of material resources of social establishments. Sergey Katanandov has posed a problem before the Government and municipal authority to put in order all regional hospitals and regional palaces of culture. These steps, in the opinion of the Head of the RK, should improve quality and availability of services rendered to the population.
Summing up the last year, Sergey Katanandov could not skirt Kondopoga tragedy. In particular, he said: «I have not forgotten and I shall not forget these tragical minutes. We had many ideas regarding the infringements revealed in activity of authorities, and we have to do very serious work - we should protect our citizens, do out best to make the republic safe, to fulfill everything we conceived in Kondopoga.»
Sergey Katanandov has stopped in detail on the subject of work of housing and communal services. «Much has been done, further plans are already made, however, this area causes the greatest pressure and most of complaints from the population, and I cannot and I shall not reconcile with it. It is obvious, that tariffs grow at advancing rates in comparison with growth of incomes of the population. The task of the Government, heads of regions is to stop growth of tariffs by all accessible forms and methods,» - Head of Karelia has declared.
Concluding the expanded session and answering questions of journalists, Sergey Katanandov graded activity of the Government of Karelia in 2006 as 'B'. However, he has specified, that while 30% of the population of Russia and 18% of the population of Karelia are below the poverty line, it is impossible to calm down and incorrect tosay that all problems have been solved. Therefore, in the near future the main task for the state remains increase of material well-being of its people, increase in pensions, public assistance and salaries.
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