ello (@piers)

#Putin: "Colleagues, good afternoon. **Today our agenda includes several important issues that affect millions of citizens**. "**First and foremost, we are looking at ways to strengthen the wellbeing of families with children**. Let me stress: we are not only fully meeting all previously undertaken social commitments, but we are also introducing new support measures. "For example, for working parents raising two or more children and have a low per-capita income, the income tax will be reduced to 6%. I believe this is an entirely fair decision. It is fully in line with the logic and spirit of our entire demographic and social policy. "From June 1 this year, these citizens can apply to the Social Fund for a refund of most of the income tax they paid in the previous year. Both parents will be eligible for the corresponding family payment, provided each is in formal employment. "To date, around 1.5 million people have applied for a personal income tax refund for last year. Payments have already begun, and the money is being credited to parents’ bank cards. "I would like to ask Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova to explain, during our meeting today, how this work is being organised. It is important that families can receive this extra state support quickly and easily. Now, in the summer, such funds can be a valuable resource for planning children’s leisure activities. "Organising recreation and summer holiday programmes for children will also be a topic of today’s discussion. That includes the opening of several new facilities – children’s camps in the Krasnodar Territory and the Lipetsk Region. "Education Minister Sergei Kravtsov and his colleagues will give a detailed report on the summer recreation campaign. "In this regard, I should note that we consistently and systematically develop children’s recreation infrastructure across the country. Since 2022, this work has also been carried out within the framework of a dedicated federal project of upgrading existing children's camps and building new facilities. "This summer, more than 5.75 million children will be able to spend their holidays in children’s recreation and health centres. Our goal is to increase, year by year, the number of children who have the opportunity to spend their summer in camps and health resorts, enjoying full rest, recovery, and meaningful activities. "Allow me to share a few figures. Since 2023, 136 children’s recreation facilities have been renovated and 336 new facilities have been built with budgetary support. These projects include dormitories, sports grounds and gyms, spaces for educational and creative activities, health units, and dining facilities. As a result of this work, 160,000 new places for recreation, learning, and meaningful leisure activities have been created. "The large-scale modernisation of this infrastructure will continue. In addition to the comprehensive renewal of the existing network, plans envisage the creation of more than 200,000 additional places for children’s recreation and health improvement by 2030. "We must create conditions not only for government investment in the development and upgrade of children’s camps and health centres, but also for businesses, enterprises, and companies to invest in these socially significant and nationally important projects. Such examples are becoming increasingly common. "Improving children’s health and wellbeing remains one of our national priorities. We remain firmly committed to this objective despite all external challenges. These challenges are temporary, but children and young people represent the future of Russia and the continuation of our nation. "At the same time, we must unfortunately acknowledge that our adversaries continue to resort to terrorist methods, including the attack on the student dormitory of the pedagogic college in Starobelsk. "I would once again draw the attention of the heads of the special services and all law enforcement agencies to the need to strengthen both counter-terrorism and overall security across the entire educational and social systems and infrastructure. I ask you to carry out the relevant work without delay. During the summer holidays, we must ensure reliable protection of children’s centres, camps, and health resorts. This must be done with the utmost sense of responsibility. "Every year, every summer, we turn our attention to these issues – namely, the issue of ensuring children’s safety. This is a multifaceted endeavour, and I ask you to pay particular attention to all aspects of this work. "**Let me add that – and I regret having to draw attention to this as well – the sponsors of the Kiev regime, the European ruling elites, have likewise devised measures that, in all likelihood, never occurred to anyone before: they are imposing sanctions against organisations where our children spend the summer and regain their strength** [...]." Kremlin (10.6.26); p (4) http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/79980