"The economy should become socially focused to serve the person, to improve his daily life," says Head of Government Sergey Leonidovich Katanandov.PETROZAVOSK, Republic of Karelia (News of Karelia),
March 20, 2008:
Sergey Katanandov, Head of the Government of Karelia, a republic located in the northwest of Russia, held an enlarged session on March 18, where senior government members participated. Pavel Chernov, Prime Minister of the republic, reported on results of development of Karelia in 2007. Teachers, doctors, scientists, public figures, businessmen and representatives of local self-government took part in discussions of the report.
Head of Karelia addresses the enlarged session. Karelia is a member of the Russian federation. In 2007 more than 309,000 people, or more than 45% of total number of citizens of Karelia, received social support.
State support was rendered to 90% of pensioners of the region, it was stated in the report.
Speaking of problems, Head of Karelia has emphasized that rising prices and low incomes of elderly population in 2007 left the hardest aftertaste. Besides, Sergey Katanandov has demanded to strengthen struggle against drunkenness, production of substitute alcohol and unlicensed alcohol trade.
Population of the Republic of Karelia 716,000, spread over an area of 180,5000 sq km. Urban population makes 75% (537,000 people), rural 25% (179,000 people). Almost 37% of the population lives in the capital city of Petrozavodsk. Population density of the republic is 4 persons per square kilometer.
The average age of the population (census of 2002) is 37.1 years. The population of able-bodied age 450,000 people, and 137,000 people are older, according to official figures.
More than 49% of the republic's area is covered with forest (mainly pine and fur trees), 25% of the territory is water. Karelia has more than 60,000 lakes and 27,000 rivers.
Kivatch Waterfalls, located on the river Suna in central part of Karelia, with height of 10.7 meters, are the second largest in Europe (first is Rhein Waterfalls).
Karelia's Ministry of Health and Social Development, located in Petrozavodsk, is headed by Valery Boinitch, and has a team of 99 employees. The republic has 51 hospitals and seven state-run nursing homes for old people.
Speaking of problems at the enlarged session of government on March 18, Sergey Katanandov emphasized that "the task of the Government of Karelia is to continue work on construction of new economy which will provide growth of the living standard in the republic".
Report written by Seniors World Chronicle.
Information Source: Government of Karelia.
