A regional seminar on the work of local government bodies was held in the Vitebsk region
– It is very important that the chairmen of rural councils do not work in isolation but see the positive experience of their colleagues from other regions. Much has already been developed on the most pressing issues of local government bodies' activities, so there is no need to reinvent the wheel; it is enough to observe and learn from those who successfully work in these areas and adopt their experience, – noted Vladimir Terentyev, Chairman of the Regional Council of Deputies.
Vladimir Vladimirovich emphasized that such practical seminars have proven their effectiveness in a relatively short period, have become in demand, and will be held in the future. Similar events have already taken place in the Dokshitsy and Lepel districts.
Meetings of representatives from different regions provide an opportunity to discuss current topics and issues of population life support, including landscaping, sale of land plots, and the work of district utility enterprises.
The focus of the chairmen of councils also includes the protection and prevention of family dysfunction among children within the framework of implementing the norms of Decree No. 18, as they are aware of the lives of every local resident and can make a significant contribution to resolving problematic situations.
The head of the Vitebsk region's deputy corps noted that the Vitebsk district, and in particular the Voronovsky village council, and all the institutions visited by the primary-level deputies from Beshenkovichi, Gorodok, Dubrovno, Liozno, Orsha, Senno, Tolochin, Chashniki, and Shumilino districts, were not chosen by chance for the seminar. Significant experience of successful work has been accumulated here, which is worthy of implementation in other regions of the oblast.
Thus, the deputies visited a residential development block in the agro-town of Vorony.
– In 2012, this was an ordinary field where 83 plots were formed, and now houses are being built. 50 of them were given to those in need of housing improvement, the rest were sold through auction. A plan has been developed to create another similar block. The only thing that somewhat hinders this process is the difficulties with the arrangement of transport and engineering communications and infrastructure. But we are working on this issue, – said the Chairman of the Vitebsk District Council of Deputies, Viktor Dorozhkin.
The Orthodox health camp "Druzhba" was cited as an example of targeted activities to create the necessary conditions for children's recreation during the summer.
Vladimir Terentyev emphasized that the Vitebsk Diocese, the education department of the administration of the Pervomaysky district of Vitebsk, the leadership of the Vitebsk region, and the local village council are equally interested in its stable operation, which yields a positive effect: boys and girls from not only all over the Vitebsk region but also from different regions of Russia recover and relax here.
Enterprises that have similar facilities on their balance sheets and local authorities can adopt similar practices. Many school buildings freed up due to optimization can be repurposed for children's recreation, creating not only an attractive facility from the perspective of children's tourism infrastructure but also jobs.
Single and elderly citizens living alone, especially from remote settlements, are one of the priority areas in the activities of village council chairmen.
In addition to attention, such citizens need concrete help – to be provided with firewood during the heating season, to monitor the full functioning of the road network so that a mobile shop, post office, ambulance, or rescuers can reach the elderly in case of an emergency.
All this involves both human and financial resources. At the same time, social institutions of the boarding type are ready to offer an optimal solution.
The deputies of the primary level became acquainted with the living conditions in them using the example of the Voronovsky nursing home for the elderly. Comfortable living units, round-the-clock medical care, various types of rehabilitation, interesting and useful leisure activities. At the same time, it is not at all necessary to leave your native home forever.
Vera Astapenko, Head of the Department of Social Support for the Population and Stationary Institutions of the Committee for Labor, Employment and Social Protection of the Regional Executive Committee, emphasized that the social service provides temporary accommodation services for several months, as well as short-term stay options for the working day – a kindergarten for the elderly.
The communal unitary enterprise "Vorony-Service" is stably operating and developing in the Vitebsk region, which was created and operates in close cooperation with the Voronovsky rural Council in solving the life support issues of the local population. The available equipment allows solving a wide range of tasks.
As Yuri Osipov, Chairman of the rural council, said, they started with services for repairing and building stoves, procuring firewood, and cultivating land, and now "Vorony-Service" is already servicing the local road network.
There is the necessary equipment and sprayers for combating hogweed, uprooting shrub vegetation, and tree sanitation, and the acquired sawmill line has allowed the organization to receive foreign exchange earnings through the export of small batches of products to Holland and the Baltic states.
Vladimir Terentyev emphasized that thanks to such examples of effective work as in the Vitebsk or Dubrovno regions, even avid skeptics regarding such communal enterprises can be convinced of the correctness of the chosen direction of work on comprehensively solving people's life support problems, profitability, and efficiency of such a business, which, by the way, is not privately owned.