Lukashenko supports promotion of rural life among young people
Inga Stankevich – a member of the Belarusian Women’s Union and a participant of the meeting with the President of Belarus – is a mother of many children and is currently on maternity leave. Together with her husband, they decided to move from the city to the village and are now realising a project aiming to promote the life of young people in the countryside. During today’s conversation with activists of the Belarusian Women’s Union public association, President Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that he widely supports this approach.
The Head of State noted, “An important feature of the President is if he knows how to come down from high diplomatic tribunes to the ground, to his people. The President must be aware of earthly issues. We have so many villages today, which used to be called unpromising, but today they are abandoned. Meanwhile, there is at least some road there, a power line, maybe, a summer house which has half a hectare, or forty acres, a personal plot.”
According to Aleksandr Lukashenko, it is problematic for large agricultural enterprises to cultivate such small scattered plots of land, though this can be done on an individual basis. The President underlined, “I tell Belarusians all the time: this half-hectare in the centre of Europe must now be bought at a low cost. Many houses are abandoned.”
The President drew attention to some legislative changes, according to which local authorities can now sell abandoned houses that stand on uncultivated land, “A decision has been made that if a plot is not cultivated for 2-3 years, local authorities take it and sell it to someone [inexpensively]. There won’t be these plots tomorrow.”
According to the President, it is already seen that this process is gaining momentum, with new houses appearing in villages. They may not be luxurious, but people have the opportunity to acquire plots of land. The Head of State urges to cultivate land, “Bring children there. Let them walk barefoot on the ground. People feel different, especially children, when they walk barefoot on the ground. This is human health. However, I see that not everyone heard it. You, women, can move your men and force them to the village, take these forty acres and cultivate.”
The President also accentuated the recent trend: Belarusian real estate is increasingly attracting Russian buyers. Many people from Ukraine also came to us. Aleksandr Lukashenko underlined, “We don’t refuse Russians, Ukrainians, Poles, or Lithuanians. You’re welcome but are obliged to observe our laws and rules: everything must be quiet and calm, with no interference. They eagerly come and live. And what about us? Why are we, sitting in a cell in the city, afraid to drive away and buy this plot 50km away, even 100-120km, when the roads are good? People just need to fence it carefully and cultivate the plot.”
According to the President, this is especially important for large families. The state will help purchase individual houses for those who raise five or more children, “We are moving along this way. Large families – those having five children – must have a house and a land plot to keep alive so to say. The time will come when this plot will feed you, but the main thing now is that you can take a break from this hustle and bustle, especially in Minsk or regional centres. Look at your life from this view point. Purchase a piece of land for yourself, which will remain for you, your children and your grandchildren.”
