Welfare or Pre-Election Promises?

Shorena Kakabadze, Kutaisi

According to the Georgian State Statistics Department the minimal income for a Georgian citizen is 194.5 GEL per month. Most citizens, however, have much less income than the official estimate. It is understandable under the current political realities when buttressed with extreme social conditions why it is now paramount for the central government to present offered the well-known poverty reduction project entitled “Georgia without Poverty.”

This program is to encompass a basket of measures:  increased pension, an employment program, regeneration in agriculture sector, etc. Center stage to the project will be allowances addressing the priorities of the project, which has been so much discussed by the Georgian Government. All is going to be freely provided to Georgians in response to many campaign promises.  The government claims that the project should have demonstrated results within fifty days of its inception.

Nonetheless, in spite of all the press and hype connected to the 50-day poverty reduction program there are differences of opinion as what it will bring forth. Part of the society thinks that the government has started “pre-election campaign” and poverty reduction is not about promises and social policy. It is all about getting votes and doing this is the most direct method as possible.  Georgians are questioning if the Georgian government cares anything whatsoever about poor people and the dire conditions they face each day in their lives.  The Human Rights Center’s Kutaisi Office interviewed residents of Kutaisi about the dire social conditions that they are experiencing as Georgian citizens.

Guliko Japaridze, teacher: “It is ridiculous when our government tells such fairy stories to us. The authority should take more serious measures in the country where unemployment increases day-by-day and people won’t have to complain about poverty. Nobody believes their stories. It is a pre-election campaign which deserves only hostility and disapproval.”

Tengiz Samkharadze, loader: “I work very hard to feed my children and keep my family. I worked as a chief engineer at the factory for many years but they kicked me out from there without asking me how I should feed my family in the future. A man should rely on himself only and never look to the government. He should not even trust the government. Have they ever kept the promises already made to the people?  So why should we believe them now based on such a record. What shall I do? I cannot rely on their nonsense; they will only help those that support them.”

Maguli Sirbiladze, a homemaker: “How they can speak about social allowances when they have not finished with the last round of vouchers. They have distributed vouchers on electricity and gas and at the same time are in huge arrears to “Kutaisi Gas Distribution Company” and “Energy Pro, Electricity Distribution Company.”

She told now residential customers should not have received the vouchers in the first place. My neighbor, hoping the government would assist, used electricity without restriction; then it turned out that subscriber’s number was not registered correctly in the system and his money was transferred to another account. So my neighbor was required to pay the bill in cash. I felt very sorry for the man as he was greatly stressed and become depressed over the situation. These are social allowances offered by our government?”

Nani Laghadze, a saleswoman: “Prices on food increases day-by-day. People come into the shop look at prices and cannot hold back their discontent. If they increase pension it will not change the situation because the prices have offset it. It is a problem and the government should take measures to prevent prices from increasing. Otherwise, all their promises will have been futile, just as all the ones that came before.” 

Giorgi Mchedlidze, unemployed: “Saakashvili started pre-election campaign for parliament just after the presidential elections. He knew what people wanted and he finally understand that his party cannot win the elections without the support of the people. However, it is still a question whether he actually won the elections or not. I do not believe their promises; neither do I believed the promise of increased pensions and renewed agriculture.”

Manana Sanikidze, pharmacist: “It is fact that there are poor social conditions in the country prices on medicines have been increased.  The same is true about food-products. People cannot buy even painkillers; many people die because they cannot afford medical treatment. Although some social programs are implemented there are still problems. Many people cannot qualify for those programs and those that can are the ones that do not actually need the help.”