Thursday, 12 October 2023
The Government of Armenia continues the support programs for people forcibly displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh
Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports Araksia Svajyan, Press Secretary of the Prime Minister Nazeli Baghdasaryan, Chairman of the Higher Education and Science Committee Sargis Hayotsyan presented from the Government's "Humanitarian Center" the latest data on the targeted solutions to the needs of forcibly displaced people from Nagorno Karabakh.
Nazeli Baghdasaryan first referred to the four decisions taken by the Government during today's Cabinet meeting, which were related to solving the needs of forcibly displaced people from Nagorno Karabakh. Accordingly, one of the decisions refers to the amounts of apartments for rent. The press secretary of the Prime Minister reminded that as it was already informed earlier, each person will be given 40,000 AMD for renting an apartment, and 10,000 AMD for utility expenses. This decision does not apply to persons who own an apartment, nor does it apply to their family members. However, the latter can receive 10,000 AMD for utility costs. Nazeli Baghdasaryan emphasized that this decision also applies to those persons who were not forcibly displaced after 12:00 am September 24, but also to those persons who were moved to Armenia through the Red Cross during the previous months.
The press secretary of the Prime Minister also referred to the issue raised during the Cabinet meeting today that there are still people who do not have bank card accounts and urged forcibly displaced persons to visit banks and open card accounts in order to receive the one-time assistance of 100,000 AMD. She reminded that according to the latest data, the money has already been transferred to more than 52,600 people, and transfers will be made to around 13,000 people tomorrow.
Referring to the process of accepting minors' applications, Nazeli Baghdasaryan reminded about the website dimum.ssa.am, which has two platforms. With one, the data of minors is entered to receive the 100,000 AMD support, and with the other platform it is possible to follow the transfer process of the amount of 100,000 AMD, that is, to see to which bank the money was transferred, or if it was rejected and for what reason.
The next decision of the Government concerned the Kotayk region. With that decision, the Government allocated 300 million AMD for the purpose of solving the primary needs of forcibly displaced persons. Nazeli Baghdasaryan noted that according to the latest data, there are 24,141 forcibly displaced people from Nagorno Karabakh in Kotayk region. This region hosted the largest number of displaced persons. The second is the Ararat region. The Government has already allocated 1 billion 360 million AMD to various regional administrations of Armenia for solving the primary problems of forcibly displaced persons. The Government will allocate almost 10 billion AMD for one-time support of 100,000 AMD, of which 8 billion AMD has already been allocated. And the amount of compensation for renting apartments for the next 6 months (October-March) is 27 billion AMD. In general, the executive will allocate around 38 billion 360 million AMD, which is almost 100 million USD.
The government's decisions in the field of education related to employment of forcibly displaced teachers and reimbursement of students' tuition fees. Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Culture, Sports Araksia Svajyan first presented that according to the latest data, 13,320 children forcibly displaced from Nagorno Karabakh are enrolled in the schools of the regions of Armenia and Yerevan: 4,202 in Yerevan, 2,310 in Kotayk, 1,853 in Ararat and with a smaller distribution in other regions of the republic. Regarding providing jobs to forcibly displaced teachers from Nagorno-Karabakh, the deputy minister noted that ministry has initiated a program within the framework of which teachers will be given the opportunity to be employed with simplified procedures. The Ministry inventoried the vacant positions in all the schools of the country, which are posted in the Education Management Information System. Through the database created in the information system, which will be published after October 16, teachers can choose the school where they want to continue their activity as a teacher. Based on the submitted application, teachers can start working in the school of their choice. A contract will be signed with the teacher for 2 academic years. Teachers who work in schools in all regions of the Republic will receive a 30 percent bonus, and teachers who work in schools in Syunik and Vayots Dzor regions, Chambarak and Vardenis communities in Gegharkunik region, Noyemberyan, Ijevan and Berd communities in Tavush region will receive AMD 50,000 extra salary in addition to the 30 percent bonus. As of now, according to Araksia Svajyan, around 500 teachers have applied for the job.
Chairman of the Committee of Higher Education and Science, Sargis Hayotsyan, presented details about the decision made during the Cabinet meeting, which was about the approval of the procedure for providing scholarships for full or partial tuition compensation of students forcibly displaced from Nagorno Karabakh. Thus, forcibly displaced students who studied in higher educational institutions of Nagorno Karabakh or in organizations providing primary and secondary professional education will be provided with a scholarship. The scholarship is intended for students who will be transfered to state educational institutions in the relevant field.
Nazeli Baghdasaryan added at the end that 55 children were born in the families of forcibly displaced persons from Nagorno Karabakh: 24 children in Yerevan and 31 children in the regions.
