Omarova: Residents of Dagestan mostly complain of violations of their socio-economic rights

In 2010, over 60 percent of applications sent by residents of Dagestan to the Republic's Ombudsperson told about violations of citizens' rights in the socio-economic sphere. This is stated in the report on activities presented by the Ombudsperson Ummupazil Omarova on 22 April to the president and members of the government of Dagestan.

According to the report, in 2010, 1196 persons applied to Ms Omarova. Most complaints dealt with violations of citizens' socio-economic rights - 721 applications. These are issues related to appointment and review of pensions, allowances, monthly monetary payments, provision of social support measures, improvement of housing conditions, issuance of grants, certificates, mortgage loans, compensation for lost housing, allocation of land plots for construction of individual houses.

Besides, questions were received relating to dismissal and reinstatement at work, unpaid wages, establishment of citizenship and registration at residence. In the field of public health and medical care, the main problem had to do with providing citizens with drugs, sanatorium vouchers, and establishment of disability category.

In 2010, as noted by the Ombudsperson, she had more applications from employees of educational institutions of the republic on the issues related to introduction of the new salary system. According to Omarova, the incomes of employees of educational institutions of the republic are the lowest not only in the NCFD, but in Russia as a whole. For example, the salary of a teacher of the 7th category of the united tariff scale in the republic makes 2475 roubles, and of the 8th category - 2720 roubles, whereas in Ingushetia the latter one makes 4920 roubles and in the Stavropol Territory - 4808 roubles.

After Omarova's report the President of the republic and his ministers made explanations and comments.

As stated by Abakar Akaev, Minister of Construction and Housing Services of Dagestan, in 2011 more than a billion roubles have been allocated for subsidizing utility services, while in 2010, 328 million roubles remained underfinanced. According to the minister, the absence of a special methodology for calculating a family's income hampers the timely and correct charging of subsidies. President of Dagestan instructed to promptly develop the methodology to avoid further complaints on this topic.

Ismail Efendiev, Minister of Labour and Social Development of the Republic, said in his comment on the absence of additions to pensions of highland residents that these additions had been set by the authorities of the republic in the 1980s, when the Russian Pension Fund did not exist. When making its inventory in 2010, the Pension Fund of the Russian Federation found these additional payments and liquidated them, because, under the federal legislation, additions to pensions are paid only to residents of the Far North.

Currently, 30,000 residents of the mountainous regions of the republic are without additional pensions. About 144 million roubles are needed every year for this purpose.

Reacting to this fact, the head of Dagestan asked: "Do we need to seek changes in the federal legislation to this end? If yes, then let's do it. Prepare documents, and we'll entrust the matter to our Deputies in the State Duma."

As stated by Magomedsalam Magomedov, respect for human rights is an important element in the work of state authorities. "We were among the first subjects of the Russian Federation to set up the institute of the Ombudsperson. Every year more and more citizens' complaints arrive directly to the Ombudsperson. Of course, this is evidence that people see more and more violations of their rights; but I think that it is also an element of people's trust directly to the institute of the Ombudsperson," said the head of Dagestan.

In his opinion, protection of human rights and freedoms has been and remains a priority in the activities of republic's authorities. "We are sometimes criticized for human rights organizations, in particular, by the 'Memorial' that facts of human rights violations happen from time to time in the territory of the republic. We have chosen the course towards democratization of our society, towards maximum protection of rights and freedoms of our citizens; we'll never step aside from this course," said the head of the republic.

He expressed his confidence that the authorities of the republic would mange to "seriously change" the human rights situation in the republic.

Mr Magomedov has also noted that virtually all the problems addressed by citizens to the republic's Ombudsperson have to do with funding. "I want the people to know - we do not solve the problems because we don't want it; the limited financial resources of the republic are the only restriction. Many powers are downloaded to the regional level without the appropriate financial support," he has commented.

The Dagestani President has added that complaints against actions of law enforcement bodies were not considered at this sitting, as they were grouped in a separate block and would be considered at other sittings.