palilula

FOR BETTER LIFE OF SOCIALLY VULNERABLE GROUPS
05.10.2010.
Socially vulnerable, old and infirm persons, disabled and elderly that are immobile and that depends of other people` help, older residents of rural settlements of Palilula Municipality, next year will not have to visit counters in order to exercise their rights, but they will be able to get help on the doorstep. Thanks to the European Union, that is within first call, approved project from program EXCHANGE 3 to the City Municipality of Palilula in Nis, expected significantly improve of quality of life of socially vulnerable groups – it was highlighted on press conference. Partner to the Palilula Municipality in the realization of the project “Strengthening of municipal capacity to improve the lives of socially vulnerable groups”, worth 113 thousands euros, will be Bulgarian Municipality Kustendil, and also other interested institutions and organization. Implementation of the project has begun by singing of the contract late last month in Belgrade, in organization of Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities.

Palilula Municipality is one of the ten poorest in Serbia, and from about 80 thousands of its inhabitants, less then a third of formally employed. Based on statistical data, every fifth residents of this organization of local government of the City of Nis is older then 70 years.

“Project EXCHANGE 3” will improve quality of life of every man as individual, to the persons that cant to provide for themselves elementary medical, social and legal protection, and above all, elderly and immobile persons. They will not have to come to the institution, but it will be set two mobile teams of experts, that will provide services on the field – said Prof. Dr. Igor Novakovic, president of City Municipality of Palilula. “Project is focused on elderly and infirm persons who because of their economic status do not have equal rights. On the territory of our Municipality, reminds president Novakovic, is registered 1.125 specially vulnerable with difficulties. That is the persons who can not take care of themselves, persons who is immobile, infirm and who depends of other people` help.” From 5.061 people who are older then 70 years, 487 is from some of 16 villages of Palilula Municipality.

Manager of the project Milos Stojadinovic explains that this kind of support will cover not only old and socially vulnerable people, but and unemployed single mothers, students. Project provides and opening of “social phone line” through which will interested persons will be able to get elementary information, guidance and advice. All that on the field should be practiced already in November. At this days is working at social analysis and prepares administrative environment for realizing of the project. “In multi-disciplinary team will be medic, psychologist, lawyer and sociologist. One team will be in the offices of Palilula Municipality, and other will visit citizens in their homes. Experts from teams will provide elementary health support to the people to whom that is necessary and it will be enabled to deliver them drugs. Users of this services will be able to get and free legal advices said Stojadinovic.
Kostadin Kostadinov, expert for local government from Bulgaria, spoke about education of employees of municipal administration of Palilula in accordance with modern European praxis and tendencies of work of municipal administration in social sphere, which will be realize with support of Municipality of Kustendil, which is partner in realizing of the project. It is planned and visit of representatives of Bulgarian municipal Kustendil and experts for improving of local administration from Bulgaria to the Palilula Municipality. Purpose of the visit will be transfer of experience and knowledge in work with socially vulnerable categories. We prepare and return visit to the Municipality of Kustendil in purpose of exchange of experience in area of solving and care about socially vulnerable categories of population.

Program EXCHANGE 3, which is financed by European Union, managed by Delegation of European Union in Serbia and implemented by Standing Conference of Town and Municipalities, represent continue of action and measures that have been launched within program EXCHANGE 1 and EXCHANGE 2. City Municipality of Palilula is one of 29 municipalities in Serbia which the EU approved 5 million euros within program Exchange 3. Purpose of this program is “Introduction of EU model and operation and improving of capacity and efficiency of local government in Serbia.”