A stable system of economic support measures for families with children has been established in Belarus - V. Terentyev

October 12, Vitebsk / Olga Bogacheva - BELTA /. A festive award ceremony for women of the region with the Order of Motherhood and the honorary prize named after Hero of the Soviet Union Zinaida Tusnolobova-Marchenko was held today at the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, a BELTA correspondent reports. 33 women from the region took part in the solemn event, 8 of them were awarded the Order of Motherhood, and 25 received the honorary prize named after Z. Tusnolobova-Marchenko (two more prize winners could not attend due to family circumstances). "We always prepare for the traditional autumn meetings in honor of Mother's Day with a special mood. Each of us, from the first days of life, cherishes in our soul, as the main shrine, the love and memory of our father's house, our parental family, our childhood. And all this is connected with the name of Mother. Everyone has the best, loving, beautiful, smart, and kind mother," emphasized Vladimir Terentyev, Deputy Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, congratulating the women present on the holiday. According to him, mothers' care for their home, family, and children, their kindness, mercy, and wisdom deserve sincere gratitude. It is no coincidence that Mother's Day is celebrated as a republican holiday in Belarus. "In our country, support for the family, protection of motherhood and childhood are priorities of state social policy. The focus is on supporting families raising children and ensuring the right of the younger generation to full development. Special emphasis is placed on strengthening family values, stimulating the birth rate, and promoting a healthy lifestyle. We have a stable system of economic support measures for families with children, including various types of benefits, privileges, and guarantees (in the areas of housing policy, labor and employment, social security, taxation, healthcare, education). Today, ten types of state benefits are awarded to families raising children in accordance with the law," said Vladimir Terentyev. In the Vitebsk region, in the first half of 2012, benefits were paid for 51,148 children, including childcare benefits for children under three years of age - for 34,132 children. State targeted social assistance in the form of monthly and lump-sum social benefits was awarded to 13.4 thousand citizens in the amount of Br12.7 billion. Among them, 746 large families are recipients of these types of assistance. In Belarus, the labor of motherhood is honored with high awards, emphasized the Deputy Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee. The most important is the Order of Motherhood, which is solemnly presented to women who have given birth to and successfully raised five or more children. In the Vitebsk region, as of October 1, 2012, 578 women have been awarded this high award (including 25 this year). In addition, in order to enhance the prestige of motherhood and strengthen the institution of the family, its moral foundations, positive family traditions and values, and to promote experience in raising children, the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee has established a prize named after Hero of the Soviet Union Zinaida Mikhailovna Tusnolobova-Marchenko. Since its establishment in 1987, 322 women have been awarded it (including the current laureates). -0-