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Putin to hold State Council presidium meeting in Voronezh

The meeting will focus on the development of the social protection system for the elderly

© ITAR-TASS / Mikhail Metzel

MOSCOW, August 05, 2:52 /ITAR-TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday will hold a meeting on the Russian State Council presidium, the Kremlin press service said.

The meeting will focus on the development of the social protection system for the elderly.

“The main issues on the agenda will be the improvement of socio-economic situation of the elderly and availability of healthcare services for this population group,” the press service said.

Taking part in the State Council presidium meeting will also be the heads of the social block of the Kremlin administration and Russian government, federal services and agencies, heads of the Federation subjects and leadership of social institutions.

The presidium, comprising nine members of the State Council, deals with operational issues. The presidium membership is determined by the Russian president and rotates once in six months. The last rotation took place in April 2014. Also then, the presidium was enlarged from eight to nine members - it included current acting head of the Republic of Crimea Sergei Aksyonov. The State Council presidium meetings are held as necessary, but, as a rule, at least once a month.

The presidium meetings often focus on social issues. In Cherepovets on February 17, 2014 it discussed family, maternity an childhood matters, and in July 2013 the presidium focused on the quality and availability of medical aid in regions.

The head of state regularly discussed problems of the elderly with themselves. The issue of housing provision for WW II veterans and improvement of their living conditions, especially in rural areas, is a traditional. “We promised to provide housing to all who need it and apply, and we must do this,” the president said previously.

The head of state also discussed in various formats other important issues of the elderly - their pensions. During a televised phone-in session with the president in April 2014, Putin promised that the pensions would grow and would be adjusted twice per year. “In general, it is necessary to move towards increasing pensions, it is obvious,” the president said then.

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