[ad_1]
Although more and more people are asking for help, municipalities have not used even 70% in the last year. funds for social benefits. For example, last year the municipality of Šiauliai used only 16 percent. funds for social assistance. Alytus a little more than 16 percent, Šilutė – 18 percent.
“Politicians have expressed public opinion because politicians meet with voters during or between elections and listen to such complaints. It says why we support lazy or drunkards and so on. It is not recognized that we say that alcoholism is a disease. ”Explained economist Romas Lazutka.
The economist says that municipal support for the poor is too low.
“That income is so unstable, random, when it is, when it is not. So it is not surprising that some of these people really fall into alcoholism, they do not see a way out, they cannot get out of this difficult situation by themselves and they do not receive adequate help either.
The representative of the municipalities ensures that all unused funds are redistributed to other areas of social security. Not a euro is spent on roads or sidewalks.
“I can guarantee that absolutely all the euros have been used and that all those who should have received absolutely all have received that money.” The fact is that the figures reflected in the ministry are wrong ”, assured the mayor of Šiauliai Artūras Visockas.
Although one in ten lives in absolute poverty and one in five people at risk of poverty, only 2% receive social benefits. Lithuanian people. The ministry is asking investigators to investigate why this is the case.
“In terms of income and when we look at the level of risk of poverty in Lithuania, we really believe that more people should apply for monetary social assistance and compensation. But a little more, it is difficult to say now, ”said Svetlana Kulpina, head of the Department of the Ministry of Social Security and Labor.
Other economists believe that the small number of people claiming benefits shows a true level of poverty, which is probably lower than officially announced.
“The law stipulates that the expenses that have been foreseen for social security cannot be used for other purposes. Consequently, if we do not need to finance soc.” As the programs were previously financed, this probably should not be done and would be more significant, as he mentioned, direct those funds to infrastructure improvement or all other needs, “said economist Algirdas Butkus.
The official poverty line in Lithuania is 251 euros per person.
[ad_2]
