On August 30, Vitebsk /Sergey Kochetov - BELTA/. In the Vitebsk region, about 20 thousand low-income citizens received social support in January-July, totaling over Br10.4 billion from various funding sources. By the end of 2011, it is planned to allocate another approximately Br25 billion for these purposes, as reported today to journalists by the Chairman of the Committee for Labour, Employment and Social Protection of the Regional Executive Committee, Alexander Khristoforov, BELTA correspondent reports. Over seven months, state targeted social assistance was granted to over 8.6 thousand citizens for Br3.3 billion, including assistance for the purchase of clothing, footwear, and school supplies provided to over 2.3 thousand low-income families (among them over 1 thousand large families) for over Br1.2 billion. About 6.5 thousand children in their first two years of life were provided with free food, with Br6.2 billion allocated for these purposes. Material assistance to needy non-working pensioners and disabled individuals from the funds of the Social Protection Fund of the Ministry of Labour was provided to about 4.5 thousand citizens for a total of about Br0.6 billion. In addition, assistance in repairing apartments, houses, stoves, electrical wiring, installing gas and electrical equipment and plumbing, and installing autonomous fire alarms is provided to war veterans, family members of deceased servicemen, and non-working single elderly citizens. Over seven months, such assistance was provided to almost 1.8 thousand residents of the region for Br180 million. -0-

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