Rustem Khamitov: “Demographic situation in the Republic is found in the zone of our special attention”

“Demographic index doesn’t mean just pure statistics. This is an important indicator of the whole state policy and the quality of life in the country” – the President RB Rustem Khamitov stated during the plenary session of the Republican Council for health protection, held in Ufa today. Problems of demography and measures for its improvement became its main theme this year. “The state in interested in increase of its population: 140 million people aren’t enough for such a big country as Russia. Population density on the territory of Bashkortostan is also extremely low – 28 people per one square kilometer”.

Rustem Khamitov called the level of birth rate, death rate and the character of migration the key parameters, influencing upon demographic situation.

“We have to analyze our demographic processes thoroughly: we have to understand what the tendencies are, what factors exert influence upon demography and what instruments we have to conduct efficient demographic policy” – the head of the Republic stated.

Since 2008 birth rate in Bashkiria increased by 7,5%. Reduction of death rate by 4,5% resulted in real natality for the last three years. But we have such result not thanks to the state measures but in many respects thanks to undulating character of demographic statistics.

In spite of rather favorable present situation the Republic expects the drop of birth rate in the future and according to many parameters one can make a conclusion that Bashkortostan turns to an urbanized region, having quite definite tendency, which is difficult to overcome. The absence of housing and prospects with well-paid jobs pull the birth rate curve down.

“Republic erects kindergartens and makes comfortable social infrastructure, hoping that the second and the third babies will be born in our families” – Rustem Khamitov explained – “But we still fail to receive adequate answers. We work over increase of social protection for families too. More than 170 thousand families use various types of social support for today. The budget has spent 2 billion rubles for that last year. Nonetheless it can’t be called a generator for increase of birth rate”.

The President RB called death rate the second key index, affecting demographic situation. According to him since 2008 death rate reduced by 4,5%. Life span increased from 68 to 79 years. But alcohol and drugs, growth of on-the-job traumatism, traffic and water accidents adversely affect these indices.

“We have to analyze to what extent our actions can be called efficient” – Rustem Khamitov said.

Because of many specific reasons the outflow of local population is registered in Bashkortostan. For the last nine months 31 thousand people left the Republic and 28 thousand arrived. The President RB posed the problem to attract people in the region. Migration was also called one more resource for population increase.