What is being proposed?
Article 5, dedicated to the types and amounts of state benefits, is planned to be amended to include a provision for the monthly benefit "Bala Yrysy," which will be paid from the moment of birth until the child reaches three years of age.The amount of the benefit will be determined by the government of Kyrgyzstan.
A new Article 10-4 is also being introduced, dedicated to the appointment of the monthly benefit "Bala Yrysy."
- This benefit will be granted to each child from the moment of birth until the age of three, provided that an application is submitted and the recipient resides with the child. In the case of multiple births, the benefit will be paid for each child. Additionally, the benefit will be provided to children born to mothers who are in places of detention.
- All families are entitled to the "Bala Yrysy" benefit, regardless of receiving other types of assistance, except for the benefit "Aid to Residents of High Mountain Areas."
- An application for the benefit must be submitted within three years from the date of the child's birth.
Reasons for introducing the new benefit
According to the National Statistical Committee, the level of child poverty in the country reaches 33.1%, which is significantly higher than among the working-age population (25.7%) and the elderly (18.2%).According to the agency, one in three children lives in poverty. Nutritional issues affect 14% of children under 5 years old, and 75% of children aged 6 months to 1 year do not receive adequate nutrition. This negatively impacts their cognitive abilities and may reduce labor productivity in the future, which is already leading to a loss of 10% of the country's GDP. If current conditions persist, potential economic losses could reach 129 billion soms by 2050.
Currently, the main form of support for disadvantaged families is the "Uuy-bulogo komok" benefit, which is assigned based on income level, without considering the age of the children. Families with children under 3 years old are at increased risk of poverty due to rising costs for food, medical services, and care.
At the same time, 76% of poor families with children do not receive the "Uuy-bulogo komok" benefit, while 47% of those who do receive it do not actually meet the poverty criteria. Issues with the integration of information systems also contribute to the emergence of corrupt schemes.
In this regard, a decision was made to introduce a new benefit "Bala Yrysy" in the amount of 1,200 soms, which will be provided to each child from the moment of birth until they reach three years of age, regardless of the family's financial situation.
The "Bala Yrysy" benefit will be paid alongside the "Uuy-bulogo komok" and is aimed at:
- improving the conditions for nutrition and care for young children;
- promoting the full development of the child;
- reducing the financial burden on mothers;
- decreasing the risk of poverty among families with children;
- preventing long-term social and economic consequences.
