Georgian villages decide:
Locals to choose how to spend the budget
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A government programme aimed at supporting rural development across Georgia has resumed after a two-year pause.
By 1 March, the rural communities of 3,700 villages all over the country will decide with the government what projects are most important for their particular area.
We see a very important platform being created. Direct communication will take place between the central and local governments and the local population,’’ Minister of Regional Development and Infrastructure Maia Tskitishvili says.
Infrastructure and Regional Development Minister Maia Tskitishvili meeting Kakabeti village population.
The meetings with the local and government authorities and discussions have been held already in 800 villages. Some communities have decided to spend money on:
- Repairing drinking water infrastructure
- Irrigation and drainage systems
- Coastal work
- Road and bridge renovation
- Street lighting
- Sporting grounds
- Cultural facilities
The programme is a branch of the state Fund for the Implementation of Regional Projects managed by the Infrastructure and Regional Development Ministry.
Should a village fail to reach an agreement about its priority projects, the allocated amount will be sent back to the fund.
The support programme includes financing for small infrastructural projects of approximately 5,000 – 10,000 GEL value. In total it will entail 20,000,000 GEL (about $7.52/€6.59 million) in total across the country allocated by the government.
The residents of 14 more villages can now enjoy special benefits guaranteed by the Mountain Law, announced the government of Georgia. Upgrading the living standards of the populations of mountainous areas is one of the top objectives of the government, said Georgia’s Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili.
The Georgian government will continue to support Georgia’s high mountain regions to improve infrastructure and conditions for those living there in a bid to reduce migration from rural areas to the city.
A total of 66 million GEL will be spent on developing mountainous regions in Georgia, to improve infrastructure and conditions for those living there. The money is allocated by the National Council for Mountain Development and the Fund for the Development of the Highlands of Georgia will be spent on projects that are included to Georgia’s new mountain development strategy.
The government of Georgia is redoubling efforts to avoid the reduction of population in mountainous areas of the country, initiating an increase of the list of high mountainous settlements and accordingly the number of beneficiaries of the Mountain Law.
Residents of Georgian villages will receive twice as much funding as was previously allocated within the within the framework of a special government programme aimed at supporting rural development in Georgia.
Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze has praised the government’s rural support programme, aimed at supporting rural development across Georgia and said this is “one of his favourite programmes”.
A total of 28 projects have been completed in six Georgian municipalities through a government programme that aims supporting rural development.