Residents of the Vitebsk region cannot receive in-demand rural services from the household service - KGC

June 26, Vitebsk / Diana Kurilo - BELTA /. Residents in the Vitebsk region cannot receive sought-after services in rural areas from consumer services enterprises. This conclusion was reached by the participants of the board of the Vitebsk Regional Control Committee (KGC), where the results of the inspection of the effectiveness of the management system for consumer services for the population, as well as the use of state support for the development of consumer services in rural areas, were considered, BELTA correspondent reports. Chairman of the Regional KGC Vasily Maksimov noted that Br3.2 billion of budget funds were used for the development of consumer services in rural areas in 2011 and the first quarter of 2012. However, an inspection of five district combines in Dubrovno, Rossony, Ushachi, Dokshitsy, and the enterprise "Polotskraybyt" showed that despite the state's financial support, the desired result from the assistance provided was not achieved. The proper quality of consumer services was not ensured, equipment purchased with budget funds was often used inefficiently, and in some cases, not used at all. For example, at the Dubrovno District Consumer Services Combine, equipment worth a total of Br44 million had been stored since 2006 and was only put to use after the KGC inspection. During direct telephone lines, which are regularly held by the regional committee, issues regarding the receipt of certain consumer services in rural areas often arise. Thus, the latest collective appeal came from the Beshenkovichi district, where residents complained about the inability to receive assistance in mowing grass. "The population cannot receive services that are in demand in rural areas: haymaking, soil cultivation, firewood harvesting, stove repair. The region's management system has not developed the provision of highly profitable services: window manufacturing and installation, car service," stated Vasily Maksimov. As it turned out during the inspection, the consumer services department does not practice home delivery of orders and does not organize the collection of applications through door-to-door visits. Mobile services and the professional level of specialists are subject to much criticism. The result of such work is low wages. For example, at the Ushachi District Consumer Services Combine, the average wage in 2011 barely exceeded Br700 thousand. Head of the Trade and Services Department of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee Irina Levkovich acknowledged the KGC's conclusions as fair and noted: "Along with objective reasons: weak human resources, weak material and technical base, there is also a subjective reason - the indifference of district authorities to this sector." She called the quality of consumer services an indicator of the local authorities' attitude towards the population. The KGC's remarks will be considered at the next board of directors of the region's consumer services enterprises. The Trade and Services Department of the Regional Executive Committee also intends to provide methodological assistance to the department for consumer services for the population. Following the KGC inspection, 32 officials were brought to administrative responsibility, 27 individuals to disciplinary responsibility, including one who was dismissed from their position. -0-