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Sunday, February 9, 2025

Reshaping Perspectives and Catalyzing Diplomatic Evolution

The vice-mayor of Kyrgyzstan’s capital spoke about what will change in 2023 Fox News

– A large number of enterprises operate in the capital, the private sector is actively developing. But judging by the slow pace of change, many have a reasonable question: what is taxpayers’ money generally used for?Victoria Mozgacheva: Bishkek is not only the state capital, but also a city that generates a budget. It donates a third of its income to the Republican treasury.Last year, the city budget was 15 billion soms. More than half of the pledged funds are dedicated to social programs and the needs of the population. The city, if anyone does not know, provides 22 types of social payments to residents of Bishkek who need help. Education is also financed from the local budget. The city pays salaries to teachers and educators in municipal schools and kindergartens. We pay utility bills of general and preschool educational institutions, as well as finance the repair of social facilities from our balance sheet and their construction. By the way, in 2022, more than 150 million soms were allocated from the city treasury to replace the roof of public buildings, reconstruct engineering networks and repair the heating system.In addition, 16 educational institutions were built in Bishkek last year. The Republican budget allocated 2.5 billion soms for these purposes, and the city gave another 500 million. The “Young Doctor’s Deposit” and “Young Teacher’s Deposit” programs are also partly funded by the city’s public treasury. And every year we buy vehicles and various types of equipment for the needs of Bishkek. Some funds are allocated to culture and sports.- How does the town hall solve the problem of a catastrophic shortage of places in nurseries and municipal schools?Victoria Mozgacheva: In all fairness, it must be said that the city faced this problem in Soviet times, and later it only got worse. To date, 25,000 children are on the waiting list for a crèche place. So, if objectively, to solve this problem is extremely difficult. For our part, we are doing our best. The municipal administration is trying to return the kindergarten buildings privatized in the 1990s to municipal ownership. With eleven objects, it’s already done, even if the process is long and difficult. There are some issues with the eviction of former building owners, but we try to resolve all disputes within the law. Some of the facilities are in poor condition and are being rebuilt.If we talk about overcrowding in schools, then we have partially eliminated the problem. This was done by expanding educational institutions. Where possible, for example, additional buildings are added to existing buildings. At the same time, we are trying to solve another problem: to raise the quality of the subjects taught in all schools, regardless of their status. Thus, we can ease the burden of educational institutions, which are now considered prestigious to study.- Unfortunately, not only schools and kindergartens, but also hospitals in the capital complain of overcrowding. Citizens often speak of long queues at clinics.Victoria Mozgacheva: As for the queues in the clinics, there really is such a problem. And not just with us. As a rule, the situation worsens when seasonal diseases begin. In order to somehow remedy the situation, it was proposed to introduce digital solutions such as “electronic registration” and “electronic card” everywhere. In some clinics they are already working successfully.If we delve deeper into the problem, it becomes clear that it is largely due to the fact that the city’s population has grown rapidly over the past few decades. To improve the quality of medical care, it is necessary to create additional medical facilities and attract resources. This is what we do. So, in Bishkek, the construction of a whole hospital complex will soon be completed, in which a hospital, maternity hospital and polyclinic will function. We are preparing to open an ambulance substation in the Leninsky district. We try to equip this service with modern technology. Over the past two years, the city has purchased new ambulances and several ambulance vehicles. They are intended for the management of patients in palliative care. This reduced the load on paramedics and district doctors.- Recently, a council for the affairs of the disabled has been established at the town hall. Why? What falls within its remit and what issues can be addressed there?Victoria Mozgacheva: The Council is a fully public organization with its own rights and obligations. It was created to help the mayor’s office address issues for people with disabilities. For example, to raise the issue of the same elevators in transport. There are things we hadn’t paid much attention to before. Of course, some issues have been raised at the Republican level. And now we have the opportunity to quickly approach the solution of the problems of people with disabilities.key question- Does the town hall work with the new generation of citizens? Are there joint projects with youth organisations?Victoria Mozgacheva: Contribution to youth development is the most reliable deposit.Last year we organized the second international folklore festival “Nariste”. Boys and girls from Central Asian countries and Russia took part. They represented the culture and traditions of their peoples. The main objective of this event was to identify young talents who could be supported in the future. That’s why we decided not to limit participants from Kyrgyzstan to Bishkek and invited children from the regions to the festival. Imagine that only at the opening of the holidays there were more than one and a half thousand children and teenagers, and at the parade in general more than five thousand! Participation in such holidays was for them a great incentive for personal development.Last year we organized the first Delphic Games in Bishkek. Our team has been participating in such international events for about 20 years, the guys win prizes and even win the Grand Prix. But until last year, these competitions were not held in the republic itself. Now not only young residents of Bishkek, but also children from other parts of the country have the opportunity to participate in the Delphic Games. Last year we held a Youth Affairs Advisory Council. It included representatives of student communities, young entrepreneurs, university professors, school teachers and graduates of general education and vocational schools. The main objective of the council’s work is to involve a new generation of citizens in the life of the capital. Young people should be aware of its potential and opportunities, and we, in turn, would like to get acquainted with new ideas for the improvement of Bishkek. Thanks to the advisory board, we have planned several events for the current year on ecology, the promotion of start-ups and other actions. The guys have lots of ideas. We even want to organize a competition of projects, and those of them which seem to us the most significant will be supported. In addition, we intend to revive the KVN school league.

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