In Georgia, ruling party intends to conclude agreement with each family

The ruling Georgian party "United National Movement" has stated that it will conclude an agreement with every Georgian family on fulfilment of promises within the governmental programme "More Good to People". The opposition urges the population not to support the initiative.

The new governmental programme, designed for 2012-2016, is mainly focused on social problems – employment, health insurance and development of agriculture. The programme was developed after the change of the post of Prime Minister of Georgia, now taken by the former Minister of Internal Affairs Ivane Merabishvili.

In the text of the "Agreement with Georgia", developed on the initiative of President Mikhail Saakashvili and signed by him and Merabishvili, the authorities promise to the population that the Ministry on Employment Matters; a special database will be set up to include all the unemployed; and everyone will be able to pass professional retraining. The state will insure health, in particular, of children under six years old, pensioners, teachers, internally displaced persons and policemen.

Besides, the agreement states that roads will be built to all the villages, all of them will be supplied with gas and water; over 500 new agricultural enterprises will be launched; additional 90,000 hectares of land will be irrigated; 2000 units of new agricultural machines will be purchased; and up to 90 percent of agricultural land will be cultivated.

Also, the agreement assumes issuance to each family of a voucher for 1000 laris (about 610 US dollars). The voucher can only be spent on purchase of medicines and school books, lease of agricultural equipment, purchase of fuel and fertilizers, and on payment for communal utilities.

The opposition, represented by National Democrats and the "Georgian Dream", urges the population not to support the agreement, pointing out that within eight years in power the ruling party has failed to fulfil its publicly made promises.

Some residents argue that vouchers are useless for them. "Why do I need this voucher, if I can't use it? In my family there is no schoolchildren; we need no drugs; and we live in the city, therefore, we need no agricultural machinery. If they want to give money, let them give it; and we'll decide ourselves what to do with it," said a woman.