The Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee's 'hotline' is receiving more calls regarding unpaid wages and maternity benefits

The number of citizens' appeals to the regional executive committee's weekly "hotline" has recently decreased significantly, their topics are changing, but most of the problems raised require systemic solutions.

This opinion was expressed in a conversation with journalists by the Deputy Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee Vladimir Belous (pictured) following the traditional communication with the residents of the Vitebsk region last Saturday. Almost half of the citizens who called sought help in resolving problems with wage arrears, as well as benefits for pregnancy and childbirth, and childcare. This issue is particularly acute in rural areas, where a number of enterprises have not paid their employees since October 2015. This is especially true when it comes to families with children, where parents often work at the same agricultural enterprise. A resident of the agro-town of Polota, Polotsk district, who, along with her husband, is raising four children, found herself in such a situation. The situation is further complicated by the fact that it has recently become impossible to receive earned income in the form of in-kind payment through consumer cooperative stores.

Residents of Liozno, Chashniki, and Vitebsk districts face similar problems, and a large family mother from the agro-town of Nikitikha, Shumilino district, is seeking help from the regional executive committee for the second time this year regarding the untimely payment of wages and child benefits. She found herself in a difficult life situation.

a young mother from the agro-town of Dobromysl, Liozno district, who worked in one of the farms in Shumilino before her maternity leave. About two months ago, she gave birth to her first child. But problems arose, money is needed, including for medicines, and the woman, as her mother, who called the "hotline," reported, has not yet even received her pregnancy and maternity benefits.

Vladimir Belous noted that enterprises should eliminate October salary debts in the near future, and child benefits should also be paid in general. As for salary payments, these issues are under the constant control of the regional authorities and require the development of systemic solutions.

Housing and communal services issues are invariably present in the structure of appeals, although, as Vladimir Belous noted, there are fewer of them. About a third of the calls were related to this sphere in one way or another, and residents, mainly from Vitebsk, sought assistance from the regional authorities. For example, residents of a house on Lenin Street cannot solve the problem of a leaking roof. A man who called on behalf of all residents of a three-story building on Gagarin Street reported a protracted major overhaul of the building. Here, the relevant services have long been unable to organize centralized hot water supply, and people are forced to use old gas equipment.

— Primarily, citizens address issues that need to be resolved, and the regional executive committee will take their resolution under control. However, there are also often far-fetched questions, — Vladimir Belous noted after the "direct line" concluded.

Sergey Antonov, "Vitebskiye Vesti".