Putin approves demographic policy goals through 2025
MOSCOW, October 11 (RIA Novosti) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has approved a set of goals for the country's demographic policy up to 2025, the Kremlin press service said Thursday.
Key aims set out in the document are to lower the national mortality rate, raise the birth rate, improve national health, and regulate immigration.
The proposals are designed to consolidate the efforts of federal and regional authorities "to ensure the country's sustained demographic development," the presidential resolution on the document said.
Russia will spend around 95 billion rubles ($3.7 billion) in budget funds during 2007 to counter the national demographic crisis.
Depopulation is widely seen as one of the main threats facing the country. According to the United Nations, Russia's population, currently at about 142 million, may fall by one third by the middle of the century.
In 2008-2010, the country plans to invest almost 500 billion rubles ($19.3 billion) in socio-demographic programs.
Maternity incentives, including payouts of about $9,500 for the birth of two or more children, were introduced in early 2007 following a presidential initiative announced in May 2006.
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