07.07.2022
THE MEASURES UNDER THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (2021-2027) FOR THE DESEGREGATION OF MARGINALIZED GROUPS WERE PRESENTED
Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Policy Ivan Krastev presented the measures under the Human Resources Development Program (2021-2027) for the desegregation of marginalized groups. He participated in a National Conference on the topic "State of Roma educational integration: from segregation to education in an ethnically mixed environment", organized by the Center for Inter-Ethnic Dialogue and Tolerance "Amalipe". "In order to stop educational segregation and all the lasting negative consequences it creates, we must work not only with the children, but also with their parents, not only with the minority, but also with the majority," commented Krastev. According to him, we should all look for common solutions together, because segregation is not only a problem for the Roma, but for society as a whole.
"The new Human Resources Development Program will have an impressive resource with which we will support the labor market, and a large part of the social inclusion measures will be integrated health and social services, with which we aim to cover people from vulnerable groups in the small settlements", said Krastev. It is expected that over 95,000 people of Roma origin will receive support in all PRHR measures at the national level. In the next program period, the "Integrated Territorial Investments" approach will be implemented, according to which targeted funds will be allocated for each area for measures related to employment, equal opportunities and integration according to the needs of the area. For the period 2021-2027, 94.2 million euros will be allocated from the PRDP, from which all regional and municipal administrations will be able to benefit, the deputy minister specified. At least 50,000 people from the Roma community are expected to be covered by these measures.
Deputy Minister Krastev also presented the possibilities under the European Child Guarantee, which in Bulgaria will be implemented by the "Human Resources Development" Program and the "Education" Program. "In the next program period, integrated actions will be taken to guarantee children's rights - access to quality healthcare, education, proper nutrition, housing, social and other services depending on the needs of the child and the family," said Krastev. The PRDP measures that will receive support are aimed at social inclusion, tackling child poverty and access to health services for children. The measures under the Education Program are related to access to preschool and school education and support for healthy lifestyle programs.
One of the measures approved at the last meeting of the Oversight Committee of the OPRCHR is Operation "Future for Children" with a budget of BGN 81.2 million. The main activities that will be financed are services for early childhood development, integrated health and social services, prevention for better health care of children, their parents and extended family, patronage care for children from 0 to 3 years, which also includes care for pregnant women and women in labor. Under the "Future for Children" measure, all accompanying activities aimed at the realization of parents in the labor market will be supported, such as ensuring access to the labor market, counseling and employment mediation, subsidizing jobs for inactive and unemployed persons. The operation is expected to reach over 40,000 children up to the age of 18, with 5,000 of them expected to be from highly marginalized communities. "If the success we are reporting so far with the pilot project in the districts of Stara Zagora, Sliven and Burgas is multiplied, the funds can easily be increased significantly," stressed the Deputy Minister.
