Thursday, 30 January 2014
Government will Reimburse Part of Gas Tariffs; Adopts a Number Decisions Concerning the Social Sphere
A Cabinet sitting was held today, chaired by RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan.
Given the increase in tariffs for gas and electricity from July 7, 2013, as well as the unprecedented long and cold winter of 2013-2014, which has caused the payments for the gas consumed for household heating purposes, to increase significantly, the Armenian government consistently continues to provide support to socially vulnerable families eligible for family allowances.
In particular, in order to mitigate the tariffs for the natural gas consumed in the second half of 2013 and during the period between January and December of 2014, the Government has decided to reimburse AMD 56 from the current gas tariff (AMD 156). The decision applies to about 65 thousand families eligible for family allowances.
The Government has approved the procedures for the the family vulnerability assessment and registration in this system; the list of RA settlements, according to the impact factor on the family vulnerability assessment; procedure for calculating the income from animal husbandry and land use; procedure for appointment and payment of family, social allowances or emergency aid; procedure for appointment and payment of child care for children younger than 2 years old; allocation of funds for this purpose from the RA State budget, and a number of other provisions, the implementation of which will ensure the natural course of the state allowances system.
By the following decree, the Government has established that the funds provided by the State budget to the "Benefits aimed at improving the standard of living" program pay family allowances, social allowances, emergency aid at the birth of a child in the family, aid for when the child attends his first grade at school, one-time emergency aid, provided in case of a death of a family member, and quarterly emergency. These two decrees come into force on the day after the official publication, they apply to the relations established after January 1, 2014.
The Government has permitted Instigate Robotics CJSC to conduct operational activities in the free economic zone "Alliance" in the territory of “RAO Mars” in the field of robotics, including production of UAVs for educational and industrial purposes. The operational activities in the free economic zone “Alliance” will give an opportunity to attract investments, encourage exports of products, created in the field of high and information technologies, as well as promote the recognition and dissemination of the Armenian brand.
Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan noted that the free economic zone is gradually acquiring content. Sufficiently serious programs have been approved. After the Armenian tablets, the production of which will begin this year, this is the second similarly serious program.
The Government has taken into account the report of the Minister-Head of Government Staff – certificate of carrying out the mandates of RA Government from July 18, 2013, “On approval of the program of activities and priorities of the RA Government in 2013” (in the period of 18.07.2013-31.12.2013), according to which, of the 95 points to be executed by January 29, 2014, 94 points or 98.9% have been executed.
