Putin outlines housing, library modernization, and income growth plans
During an opening event for social facilities in several regions, President Putin spoke via video link about the need to relocate residents from dilapidated and dangerous housing. He emphasized that the national effort to resettle people from emergency housing is advancing and reiterated a continual message: residents must be evacuated from slums and unsafe dwellings. By late 2022, the authorities anticipated a new peak in housing construction, with the goal of surpassing 87 million square meters built and more than three million Russian families improving their living conditions. The president stressed that even higher momentum was essential to drive broader improvements.
Librarian salaries and actual results
Commenting on a report from Buryatia about the opening of a new library, Putin turned attention to the level of wages in the social sector. He noted that discussions with the government would address the general income levels in the country and, in particular, in social services. He observed that wages in the social sphere are relatively modest, with librarians often facing especially low pay.
The president highlighted the authorities’ intention to transform libraries into centers of community life, effectively turning them into attractions or clubs equipped with modern interactive devices and reliable Internet access. Local interlocutors from Buryatia reported successful implementation of these enhancements.
During the video conference, a student from Buryatia spoke with the president, accompanied by district head Alexei Tsydenov and Natalya Postnikova, the director of the Barguzinsky district library system. Tsydenov encouraged the student to speak freely. The student commented on the newly introduced amenities, noting a positive sense of renewal: there were signs accessible for the visually impaired, virtual reality glasses, and a studio for editing. He mentioned the delivery of about 2,000 books, viewing this as a significant achievement.
Money in your pocket
Later, in a government meeting, Putin stated that people often judge their well-being by the amount of money they have, not by statistics alone. He argued that while statistical data should guide policy, the perceived personal economic situation remains the key factor for many citizens.
He instructed that public sector salaries be indexed starting January 2023. Earlier, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov had indicated that next year state employee wages would rise by more than eight percent, with pensions increasing by about 1,000 rubles. Putin acknowledged the impact of inflation on prices and noted that nominal wage growth in the broader economy was evident, suggesting that salaries for public workers should reflect these realities. He urged prioritizing the well-being of Russian citizens as the foremost goal, with targeted support for regions that genuinely needed it.
According to Putin, the poverty rate fell to 10.5 percent after the third quarter, down from 11 percent in the same period the previous year. He described this decline as a meaningful sign of improvement in a challenging economic climate and emphasized the importance of sustaining this positive trend.
He mentioned that small allowances or targeted adjustments were provided to regions that fell short of salary indicators, increasing the incentive rate to five percent. Still, he noted that only ten of the 89 regions met the indicators exactly, with some deviations allowed. At the start of 2023, regions with weak budgets would receive additional federal support to reach the required public sector salary level.
Speaking about the budgetary system, including cultural institutions, Putin observed that budgets had faced reductions in recent years, partly due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He urged the government to assess the situation and ensure that professionals in these institutions are fairly compensated and motivated to perform at a high level of efficiency. The overarching objective, according to the president, remains a real rise in citizens’ incomes and a reduction in poverty and inequality across the country.