Volgograd: 23,000 residents sign letter to President Medvedev about deficit of kindergartens

Russian President received a letter about the negative social consequences of a lack of places in kindergartens in Volgograd, written by the initiative group of social movement "Volgograd mothers". 23,161 residents of Volgograd and the Volgograd Region signed this letters.

"The letter with the supplement of signatures collected in two volumes was sent to Russian President in the end of May. We have sent copies to the State Duma, the Federation Council, the Chairman of the Government and the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation. Recently we received a notice that the president had received our letter," the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was told by Olga Cheburakova, a member of the initiative group of the social movement "Volgograd mothers".

"Writing of this letter was caused by the serious situation in the sphere of preschool education and its negative social consequences," said Irina Kharkova, a member of the initiative group.

In their appeal to the president the members of the initiative group wrote: "Several years ago people believed in the authorities' promises to change the demographic situation, to support young families. Now the mood changed. Young people often ask: what for the state needs our children? What to do with kids? Where are kindergartens and preschool education, as guaranteed by the Article 43 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation? Strengthening of such mood questioned the future development of Volgograd."

"Development lag of the sphere of preschool education leads to severe social consequences, to an increase of problems in many families," write the members of the initiative group and continue: "Young mothers lose their professional qualifications; their relations with the labour collectives are terminated. Families live only for the earnings of their fathers, have difficulties in purchasing food, clothing, and utility bills, and are unable to take mortgages to create minimally acceptable living conditions."

"We are anxious about the lack of clear prospects for the solution of the problem. Many people come to despair, go on hunger strikes and pickets," said Olga Cheburakova. According to her story, none of the bodies of the representative or executive power can answer the questions: To what year the line to enter preschool educational institutions of Volgograd will be eliminated? From what year every Volgograd family with a child under school age will be able to get a place in kindergarten for the child?