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Really: Poverty Reduction in 50-Days-after-5-Years

March 18, 2008

Gulo Kokhodze, Akhaltsikhe

With political fanfare the Georgian President Regional Governors were ordered to implement a 50-day poverty reduction program in various Georgian regions. However, this daunting task may be easier said than done and locals aver that if the governors are not successful it will not have an impact on the governors – as they will not be punished for their shortcoming.  The program is more about rhetoric than reality so few will really be disappointed.

On January 27 President Mikheil Saakashvili announced the 50-day poverty reduction program on National TV: “Poverty does not allow anybody to slow down and wait for something to happen. The activities will start even before the new Cabinet of Ministers is seated. No day and no hours should be wasted as of tomorrow and during the next 50 days! Georgia’s future depends on just how efficient and rapid we are with the activities,” he said.

However, residents of Akhaltsikhe do not believe in the program initiated by the president and they are not easily convinced, and they claim that it is impossible to reduce poverty in just 50 days.  “Four years have passed since they have come into office and how will they manage to be successful in reach just 50 days?! If he wants to reduce the poverty with single allowances it will not do any good. If we are now longer poor, then we will be happy but in spite of all promises we still do not believe in it!” asked Zaur Devrishvili, a resident of Akhaltiskhe.

Anzor Safaridze, another resident thinks much in the same way. He considers that nobody has every given much thought to the problems and misfortune of locals. “I cannot hope for anything better in future too. I do not believe that this government cares about people that it has any intention of helping them.  It is impossible to manage anything within fifty days. I am just coming from the agriculture market; I wanted to buy herbs and I had to pay 70 tetri for one hundred grams. My monthly pension is but a mere 52 GEL. I wish the situation was improved but I do not believe. I cannot see with my eyes where things are improving for the good.”

Marina Beridze thinks that while making that announcement newly-elected president was in a state of euphoria and his words were empty promises. “”This program is only a promise. President Saakashvili would need a magic wand to wave in order improve the situation facing country within fifty days. People are so impoverished that they are digging through rubbish in order to find something to eat.  The program is only fairy tale and soon we will wake up. The fairy tale will last till the parliamentary elections and then turn back into a nightmare. Soon time will be the judge we will learn what they have done in the period before the elections.”

Nonetheless, “Everybody tries to show off to the president, who is a man that does not know politics.  However I think he cannot sing as well.  He does not want to give up singing and the same is true of being in politics. Somehow he is trying to pave his way forward. Singers are writing songs in advance and admiring the presidents in their sweet songs. So nobody punishes when you make mistakes,” said another resident of Akhaltsikhe, who would rather not give his full name. He also had some sweet words to say about the current Regional Governor of Samtskhe-Javakheti region who was also a singer before coming into politics.”

Another respondent, “I wish they managed to support us at least in five years; in fifty days they will not,” said Roza Melkoniani.

Ramaz Javakhishvili spoke about enterprises and agriculture. He thinks that the policy to tiny and average business should become les liberal. “Tax Revenue has been decreased to 25 % from 32 % and they plan to reduce it to 15 percent in several years. It should be started the other way around, for rates to be reduced now and when a business is successful to charge a higher rate. It is counterproductive in their thinking and implementation such policies.”

Goga Khachidze, Regional Governor, said that they plan to open enterprises for agricultural products in Akhaltiskhe and Adigeni. In addition to that he promised that tourists will have access to the local observatory. He also mentioned that tourist may hamper scientists from doing their work. They plan to make new road on Goderdzi Valley; to repair water-system in Akhaltiskhe and fix the road leading to the Armenian Cemetery in Akhaltiskhe. 

“Our demands are for the implementation of infrastructural projects, which will take place in various districts. It is our main target is to repair roads. Also, one of the most important things and a “main novelty” is the possibility of Akhaltiskhe will be supplied with natural gas before the arrival of next winter,” said Goga Khachidze.

The above-quoted locals were rather candid in their thoughts about much touted 50-day poverty reduction program, which is reflected of the overall skepticism of locals towards political grandstanding with all the promises made. They consider them as empty promises – and are convinced that they will never be fulfilled.

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