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The Russian government is pulling big strings to fund new social programs on Putin’s orders. Here’s where the two trillion rubles are going, at a glance.

Source: Meduza
Alexander Ryumin / TASS / Scanpix / LETA

In his January 2020 address to the Federal Assembly, President Vladimir Putin didn’t just announce radical constitutional reforms. He also promised the Russian people a series of social welfare boosts, from free hot lunches for elementary schoolers to increased allowances for families with children. To make those proposals a reality, the new executive cabinet led by Mikhail Mishustin has introduced a State Duma bill amending the federal budget. In the next three years, the cabinet intends to spend more than two trillion rubles ($31.2 billion), an increase of approximately 13 percent over the social spending already allocated by the federal government. Here’s where those two trillion rubles are headed:


2020

2021

2022

Monthly payments for guardians of children ages three through seven

159.2

289.7

301.3

Maternity allowances

122.4

210.7

265.8

Two-thirds compensation for income lost due to investment tax deductions for organizations

30

30

30

Allowances for lead classroom teachers (5,000 rubles each)

25.4

76.3

76.3

Hot lunches for elementary schools

21.8

43.6

43.6

Primary and secondary school expansions

20.3

47.3

44.5

Financial aid for low-income individuals

10

10

10

Modernization projects for primary and secondary schools focused on the arts

4.2

4.2

4.2

Modernization projects for primary healthcare


50

50

Expansion of ‘social contract’ welfare programs to all Russian citizens


22.2

22.2

Increased enrollment targets for colleges and universities


2.5

11.2

TOTAL

393.3

786.5

859.1

All amounts in millions of rubles. Source: explanatory note for bill number 904447-7.