Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District has become the third most fertile region in Russia

Infant mortality in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District has decreased 5.4 times since 2010, and this is a good indicator. Vladimir Putin said this on October 28 at a meeting with Governor Dmitry Artyukhov. In addition, the number of large families has tripled, now one in four. A number of problems remain — the education of a quarter of schoolchildren in the second shift and the quality of drinking water.

What was discussed at the meeting

At the beginning of the meeting, Vladimir Putin drew attention to the climate situation in the region. According to the head of the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District, there is indeed a problem with the melting of permafrost, but it is not so acute. Its solution requires a scientific approach and observation. Dmitry Artyukhov also thanked the president for his "special attitude to all Arctic regions, to Yamal in particular."

Issues of demography and healthcare were discussed. According to the governor's estimates, the region became the third most fertile region in Russia last year. Chechnya ranks first, and Tuva ranks second, Vladimir Putin noted. At the same time, the number of large families has tripled: now one in four such families in the region, although in the Russian Federation, on average, only one in ten. The President noted the successes of the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug in reducing infant mortality in the region. It has decreased 5.4 times since 2010.

The Head of State noted that 25% of the region's schoolchildren are still studying in the second shift. The governor assured that in a year the problem will be solved — eight schools are currently under construction, and six more are undergoing major repairs.

In addition, the region is preparing to create the best territory for childhood, despite the very harsh climate. The result is as follows: 30 new kindergartens, 17 schools and sports facilities.

According to the statistics of the fight against poverty and unemployment, the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District demonstrates the best indicators in the country, the governor said. The autonomous Okrug is also among the leaders in terms of average wages. Housing policy support measures are provided for young families.

To improve the quality of life of the general population, Vladimir Putin instructed Dmitry Artyukhov to pay special attention to the state of drinking water. "This is a problem of the region, you know," the head of state stressed. The head of the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District informed the president that the problem persists mainly in small towns, but it will be solved in the coming years.

Despite the industrial development in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District, the number of representatives of the indigenous peoples of the North, as well as those families engaged in traditional farming, is growing, the governor said. "In general, it seems to me that the trend is so unique in the world, because everywhere, if you take North America, other regions of the world's Arctic, as a rule, small nations disappear, are erased, this has historically happened, right up to the point that the reservation was created," Dmitry Artyukhov said.