Rustam Minnikhanov: "The system of assistance to orphaned children needs qualitative improvement"

“State and society should work out new efficient measures for supporting orphaned children, children left without parental custody, adopted and custodial children”, - President of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov said at the travelling session of Republican council on issues of charitable activity. The session was held in Laishevo with participation of chiefs of republican ministries, departments, heads of municipal formations, deputies of RT State Council.

Before the session Rustam Minnikhanov visited a large family and residential school for the blind and visually impaired children. President of Tatarstan handed presents for all members of the family. The main one was the car Fiat Doblo. Children from every corner of Tatarstan study at Laishevo special residential school. Teachers and doctors help blind children to adapt in their life and learn to live notwithstanding their illness.

Rustam Minnikhanov inspected the school gym, English class and club activities room. Guests were mostly interested in informatics room where the work of a special text voicing program was demonstrated to them. Such program enables blind people read books and use Internet. After few years of practice people start perceiving the speech delivered so quickly that ordinary people will hardly understand a word.

Head of republic suggested developing the same application for iPad. He granted a certificate for new computer equipment to the school.

Issues of social adaptation of orphaned children and children left without parental custody were discussed at Laishevo regional house of culture. Rustam Minnikhanov noted that for the last 100 years Russia experiences the third wave of orphanhood. But in 1945 it was an obvious phenomenon, now causes of orphanhood are hardly accepted as natural.

Currently there are about 700 000 orphans in Russia. By words of RT President in present conditions very often it is caused by asocial behavior of parents and their cruelty to children. Sometimes children become orphans in maternity hospital. In 2010 parents renounced 146 children, for 7 months in 2011 – 60.

By and large, there are 12359 orphaned children and children left without parental custody in Tatarstan. The network of special institutions was created in republic for their maintenance. But still in spite of such conditions it is better if children are brought up in foster families. There are 2183 foster families in Tatarstan, more than 90 % orphans are brought up in foster or tutorial families. By words of RT President, at the same time it is worrying that children are returned to children’s homes. 28 children returned to children’s homes in 2010 in Tatarstan. Head of republic believes that each of these situations should be analyzed and causes should be defined and eliminated.

Rustam Minnikhanov stressed that large families with foster children should be especially controlled by regional authorities. He suggested all municipal heads to visit foster or tutorial families.

RT President asked to pay special attention to the problem of so-called “social” orphanhood when children are left without parental custody even if their parents are alive. Out of 1472 children that were recognized orphans last year parents of 953 children were deprived of parental rights.

Rustam Minnikhanov also paid attention to the disabled children. He shared his own impressions after visiting Laishevo special school for the blind and visually impaired children. “These children are very diligent, dedicated and talented, their potential must be used. They are willing to get to know the world and we have to give them opportunity to become complete members of our society”, - R.Minnikhanov stated.

Head of Tatarstan suggested teaching disabled children IT professions. By his words, modern technologies enable blind and visually impaired people working with computer.

Summing up, Rustam Minnikhanov emphasized that orphanhood is a serious and dangerous social phenomenon. Though much is being done in republic for social support of orphaned children, the system needs qualitative improvement. President of republic gave assignment to prepare appropriate proposals by results of the session.