Rustam Minnikhanov: “Large families are an example to follow”

On November 29, on the Mother's Day eve, at the Kazan Kremlin, a traditional ceremony to honor large families of Tatarstan was held. Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov handed in medals "Maternal Glory" to nine mothers of large families.

Welcoming the audience, Tatarstan President noted that the republic is justifiably famous for its close-knit and friendly families. There are more than 1.1 million families in Tatarstan, with only more than 28,500 marriages, including 5280 interethnic ones, registered since the beginning of the current year. "Close-nit interethnic families are the key to preserving harmony in the republic,” Minnikhanov said.

He said that all the conditions for giving birth and good upbringing of the younger generation have been provided in Tatarstan, which is confirmed by the growing number of newborns. According to Minnikhanov, more than 48,000 babies were born for 10 months in 2014, which is 319 babies more as compared with the same period last year.

According to him, a range of measures to support families with children are being implemented in the republic. This year the construction of a perinatal centre for 200 bed-places started at the Regional Clinical Hospital in Kazan. During the last five years nearly 34,000 new pre-school places have been provided, more than 200 new kindergartens have opened. It is planned to provide 10,415 pre-school places more in 2014.

Also, the republic granted more than 22,000 land plots to large families, the programme to ensure families with five or more children with housing certificates have been implemented since 2007.

"We have always paid great attention to retaining traditional family values, enhancing the role of the family in society. Awarding mothers of large families with the medal "Maternal Glory" on the Mother's Day has become a tradition. Over 15 years 1,303 mothers have been awarded. Today, I am very pleased to give this national award to nine wonderful mothers," Minnikhanov said.