Opinions & Interviews

Lukashenko highlights importance of targeted support to children from large families

An archive photo

BREST OBLAST, 6 October (BelTA) – Through the joint efforts of society and the state, we need to develop an effective system of support for families so that assistance reaches children, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko told the media during his working trip to Brest Oblast on 6 October, BelTA has learned.

The question was about a high-profile criminal case, about the family's lifestyle, the details of which were revealed during the investigation and court hearing.

Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that in such situations, the role of society is certainly important. It should not be indifferent to what is happening around and react timely and take measures.

According to the president, the support of large families by the state is of great importance, as the country needs to improve the demographic situation. But the system must be built in such a way so that the assistance is targeted, that it is spent on the needs of children. In this sense, it is important to organize control over the targeted use of such assistance.

"So that the money allocated by the state reaches children. To be honest, I don't know what kind of system it will be. This will not be an easy job, and it will be difficult to develop this system. We can't do it without you. People on the ground should help us with this. But it must be done," Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed.

"Authorities, we must develop such a scheme, a system of behavior so that we know what kind of family they are. People on the ground know. For example if we learned that the parents are drunkards and will use the allowance to buy alcohol, then we would feed the children, dress them, and school them ourselves," the president added.

The head of state has continuously drawn attention to the need to provide targeted support to children from large families and demand that people in charge take appropriate measures.

Addressing the Belarusian people and the parliament on 31 March, the president stated that in some large families in Belarus parents led an antisocial lifestyle and abused alcohol. The head of state stressed the importance of taking in the situation on the ground in order to protect the interests of children. In his words, state support should target children in the first place.

“The government, governors need to address this issue. If you see that parents spend money on alcohol and the funds do not reach children, make the corresponding decision to provide for these children,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

The president demanded to make sure that the children, who are entitled to state support, get these benefits. “Irresponsible parents should not get this money as they do not deserve it,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said. “The society is also outraged with such a state of affairs.”

The issue of child benefits was discussed at the meeting of the president with the Council of Ministers on 22 June 2023. “We allocate a lot of money to support children, and not only large families,” the head of state said. “Today there are almost 10,000 families where children are recognized as being at social risk. 10,000 families cannot provide for their children properly. Negligent parents simply spend child benefits on alcohol and leave their children suffering.”

Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed: “The system must be fine-tuned to make sure children are provided with everything necessary and irresponsible parents are brought to their senses.”

As BelTA reported earlier, the trial of a high-profile criminal case began this week. The parents are accused of the brutal murder of their three-year-old son.

The child was subjected to physical abuse by his parents practically from birth. He suffered from starvation. The family received child benefits, but, according to the case materials and the testimony of the accused in court, the parents spent money on alcohol.

In January 2023, the parents beat their child to death in the presence of the rest of their children.

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