Putin: Russia needs breakthrough, virus delays some urgent plans

MOSCOW, Dec 23 (PRIME) – Russia has to make a breakthrough as some pressing issues have been postponed by the coronavirus pandemic, President Vladimir Putin said at a joint meeting of the State Council and the Council for Strategic Development and National Projects on Wednesday.

“Some plans for this year have been delayed… because of the difficult situation. But the task to achieve a breakthrough and qualitative changes in the key spheres still exist,” he said.

Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said that 39 trillion rubles will be allocated for the integrated national plan in the next three years.

“Significant work has been made to prepare the integrated plan, 25 interagency working groups involving hundreds of people from different ministries and other agencies were created within the National Projects Center. The groups have considered all the details thoroughly,” he said.

“Serious resources, namely 39 trillion rubles, or around 13 trillion rubles annually, have been allocated for implementation of the integrated plan.”

Putin said that around 150,000 application were submitted for a lump payment for children under eight announced at the annual presidential press conference that took place earlier in December.

Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova said that more than 1 million families will receive maternity capital of over 483,000 rubles in 2021, and that pensions for the unemployed pensioners will be adjusted by 6.3% from January 1, 2021.

Golikova also said that 17 billion rubles will be sent for upgrade of the Russian infection service in 2021, and that the government will approve a free healthcare program soon.

(75.3498 rubles – U.S. $1)

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