Problems and achievements of the Vitebsk region — an interview with Vladimir Terentyev

Our correspondent discussed current problems, achievements, and plans with the Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Council of Deputies, Vladimir Terentyev.

— Vladimir Vladimirovich, when you were elected to this position, you emphasized that special attention should be paid to the development of rural areas. This is probably difficult to achieve if most districts receive subsidies?

— Yes. To solve socially significant issues and strengthen the revenue side of local budgets, it is necessary to increase the regions' own revenues.

There are several ways to do this. For example, regions should be more actively given enterprises of republican ownership at their disposal. Including those that are city-forming. As a result, we will be more actively involved in managing them, without looking back at ministries. A significant amount of profit tax will go into the local budget. This also applies to the transfer of unused property in rural areas to small and medium-sized businesses.

Unfortunately, many farms have found themselves in a difficult situation. Therefore, integration structures are being created. They technologically unite product producers, meat processing plants, dairy plants, and grain processing plants. Plus, trade enterprises. This is a real scheme for increasing production volumes and reducing costs.

— The Vitebsk region is a leader in the country in terms of the number of settlements. There are many villages where fewer than 10 people live. How do authorities care for the residents of such villages?

— Approximately one-third of the more than 6,000 villages are sparsely populated and remote. In about 2,000 villages, there are 10 people or fewer, and in 75% of them, the number of residents does not exceed 50 people.

I believe that even small villages are not cut off from civilization. The bus fleet is constantly being updated to improve transport services. All villages are covered by trade and household services. Mobile shops, for example, come there... By the way, commercial "shops on wheels" also bring goods. About 150 comprehensive reception points are in operation. Postal services are provided. By the way, out of 400 post offices, 283 are located in rural areas. There are 35 mobile post offices. Library services on wheels are also provided.

Residents can rent equipment for agricultural and construction work. Agricultural products are delivered to the gates – this is handled by farms and housing and communal services. And medics, even narrow specialists, are frequent guests in remote areas.

Villagers, I am sure, do not complain. A network of social service points, 56 household and mobile social service teams has been created. Those unable to work are provided with services such as sawing firewood, land cultivation, and others... Scooters have begun to be used for social workers' travel in the Vitebsk region...

Volunteers are also assigned to the elderly. New forms of work are being introduced. For example, the "Interlocutor for an Hour" service. Seasonal and shared housing for pensioners are being opened. They are also accepted into "foster families." And "foster children" give them attention and care. In turn, they often receive help with household chores and childcare...

Meeting with trampolinists (the first from the left is Vladislav Goncharov, winner of the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro).

— There are not many communal unitary enterprises for providing services to the population at rural executive committees. Although a few years ago, at the national level, the authorities talked a lot about the need to create small communal unitary enterprises for providing services to the population and their development. What is hindering this? Why is it successful in some places, while in others, communal unitary enterprises were either not created, or they ceased to operate over time?

— The complexity in creating UPFs lies primarily in the fact that the issues are not regulated at the legislative level. In particular, there is no legal framework to regulate the maintenance and upkeep of equipment. There are several good examples. Lepel district is an exemplary one. There are as many as 4 UPFs operating there. They purchase milk, cultivate land plots, deliver firewood and peat briquettes. They provide transport and other services...

In Senno district, UPFs "Our Care" and "Local Services" are operating. The first one is engaged in milk collection. It serves 412 suppliers from 112 villages. The second one provides services for firewood procurement and fuel delivery. Landscaping work is being carried out. This year, the collection of solid household waste in villages and transportation to the landfill are planned.

In Vitebsk district, at the Voronovsky executive committee, a UPF helps citizens cultivate land and harvest crops. Fodder is being procured. Agricultural products are being sold. Pastures are being maintained, and hazardous trees are being cut down. Work is being carried out to improve cemeteries. The UPF also demolishes unused houses...

— Are there successful examples of small business development in rural areas of Vitebsk region? And what hinders it?

— There are good examples. And I hope there will be more in the future. For example, a native of the agro-town of Kokhanovichi, Verkhnedvinsk district, purchased a wooden house there in 2009. He rebuilt it and organized a private enterprise. He opened a shop. For the first few years, he worked without days off or holidays. He reinvested the money earned. As a result, he opened a chain of small shops selling mainly food products. The entrepreneur created 12 jobs...

In the village of Yukhovichy, Rason District, in a farm established in 1995, people initially worked the land. Then they started to engage in timber harvesting, wood processing, and lumber production. Currently, the team numbers 120 people. The profit is planned to be used for the creation of a repair and technical base and a parking lot for automotive and tractor equipment. They have also conceived to organize the production of planed timber and products made from it. In the future, they plan to produce fuel pellets from sawmill waste. They will develop hunting and fishing. The farmer has set up a tent camp on leased lakes and organized fishing...

In Sharkovshchyna District, a private enterprise for providing construction services was established in 2012. Subsequently, the firm acquired a disused building in Hermanovichi. There, they established a wood processing production. 22 people gained employment...

One of the most pressing problems for novice entrepreneurs is where to get startup capital? Loans are expensive. And, as a result, they are in demand.

— The problem of a shortage of young personnel in the periphery is perhaps "eternal." Former graduates, after working off their mandatory service, leave for the cities. But I personally know examples when young doctors and veterinarians, during their mandatory service, lived, to put it mildly, not in the best living conditions, in rooms without amenities... When will we start thinking about this seriously?

— Every year, more than 6,000 specialists are assigned. The largest number is in agriculture – about 2,000 people. For comparison, in industry – more than 1,200 people, construction – about 1,000 people, education – more than 700 people. The same number is in trade and public catering.

However, every year up to 20% of young workers in state industrial enterprises and construction organizations quit and move to commercial structures. Or they leave altogether in search of work abroad. They are dissatisfied with the low wages and difficult working conditions with a large proportion of manual labor. Far from all enterprises and organizations are able to provide young specialists with housing. Some of them do not even have their own dormitories.

But not all is bad. For example, the provision of teaching staff in the field of education is increasing. Last year, 57 apartments and 190 dormitory places were allocated to young professionals in medicine. To retain staff, the housing issue is being resolved through rental housing. Last year, 8 apartments were obtained in this way in Glubokoye and Gorodok.

The Committee for Agriculture and Food of the Regional Executive Committee notes that the percentage of staff arrivals has increased over the last 2 years. This is linked to the modernization of production. As well as the difficulty of finding work outside of distribution. Regarding housing, most live with their parents, about 21% in dormitories... Cases of living in unequipped premises are very rare. There is always an alternative: to settle in rented accommodation with partial or full payment by the organizations. Young people want to live in rural areas no worse than in cities. They want good housing, salaries, sports facilities, and more. And there are many examples when they get what they want.

Much has been done in many organizations to retain young specialists. They know how to appreciate them at OAO "Keramzitovyy Zvyr Zavod" in Novolukoml. A young specialist who gets married is paid financial assistance - 10 base units. And upon the birth of the first child - 15, the second - 20 base units. Young people are also encouraged on holidays. And on Builder's Day, they are awarded a bonus - 100% of the tariff rate (salary).

If young specialists agree, contracts are concluded with them. And in accordance with the legislation, supplements to wages are established: from 30% to 50% and more of the tariff rate.

With the Bishop of the Vitebsk Catholic Diocese Oleg Butkevich and the Head of the Department for Religious and National Affairs of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee Mikhail Danilenko.

— The "social welfare" tax has become the number one topic for public discussion this year. Unfortunately, there are quite a few cases where people genuinely cannot find work. Perhaps local authorities should more actively assist employment centers and potential employers?

— We have intensified our efforts to ensure timely and complete submission of information by employers regarding the availability of vacant jobs. Every day, HR departments are informed about vacancies by labor authorities. A mechanism for updating the nationwide vacancy bank has been developed and is functioning effectively.

The labor market remains focused on blue-collar professions, accounting for 58.3% of vacancies. At the same time, highly qualified specialists are increasingly in demand. Employers need seamstresses, drivers, concrete workers, reinforcement workers, cooks, and hairdressers. There are many opportunities to find work for sales assistants, shoe assemblers, turners, and electrical fitters. Among specialists and employees, the most sought-after are accountants, engineers, nurses, doctors, and kindergarten teachers. In rural areas, there is a shortage of tractor drivers, veterinarians, paramedics, and foresters.

— The head of state has repeatedly spoken about the need to increase parliamentary activity, the role of Councils in society, and moving away from formalism in this system... From this perspective, how would you assess the parliamentary activity of the Vitebsk region?

— There are 224 local Councils of Deputies operating in the region. This includes the regional council, 23 councils at the basic territorial level, and 200 at the primary territorial level. A total of 3,218 people have been elected to Councils of Deputies at all levels.

Local self-government is one of the most important institutions of modern society, as it is maximally close to the population and serves as the primary level of public authority organization.

For most voters, a deputy is a person they should trust. They must be well-informed and understand what is happening in their constituency. They are obliged to be interested in the lives of their constituents and the situation at enterprises and organizations. Only then can they effectively participate in management processes and resolve a wide range of issues that affect regional development and quality of life.

The parliamentary corps works in close coordination with the executive vertical. This is a very important point. Because the authorities at the local level are the closest to the people. And they must be as open and transparent as possible. Including through dialogue, which is realized with the help of ideological workers and mass media.

In the districts, Days of Work with the Population have become a practice. They are attended by deputies of district and village councils, elders, activists of village councils, responsible employees of district executive committees, district services and departments. Such forms of work as outreach meetings and receptions yield positive results. Valuable monitoring of citizens' appeals...

The institution of village elders has been strengthened. They play an important role in connecting the authorities with the people.

The activities of all representatives of local self-government bodies are focused on solving both strategically important tasks in all sectors of the national economy and the daily problems of citizens. It is aimed at achieving a common ultimate goal – improving the standard of living of the region's population. And this is possible through ensuring the sustainable, dynamic and effective functioning of the economy.

Interviewed by Alexander PUKSHANSKY, "Zvyazda".