NATALIA SHAGAIDA: “ADDITIONAL FUNDING OF RURAL TERRITORIES IS A POSITIVE FACT”

Natalia Shagaida, Head of Agrarian Department at the Gaidar Institute, commented to Nezavisimaya gazeta on the news that the Government of Russia will allocate funds for the development of rural territories earlier than planned.

According to the Resolution signed by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, 33 regions of the Russian Federation will receive money for the development of rural areas a year ahead of schedule. Thus, they will receive Rb 4.6bn in 2023.The Cabinet of Ministers explained that this will allow to expedite the implementation of projects in such regions as the Republic of Buryatia, Republic of Udmurtia, Arkhangelsk, Kursk, Novosibirsk, Ryazan, Sakhalin and Yaroslavl regions. Culture centers, kindergartens, schools, sports and communal infrastructure will be built and renovated in 23 localities. Moreover, over 400 houses will be built or bought for citizens in need of better housing conditions.

Natalia Shagaida reported that according to the census of 2010 and 2020-2021, the number of rural people working in their village grew by 732.000 people amounting to 9.8 mln people in 2021or 68% of employed villagers over the age of 15. “The amount the government has allocated ahead of schedule, Rb 4.6 bn, is certainly not much money based on the total number of villages and rural residents, but anyhow, it is a very positive fact,” she believes.