Yanukovych promises to increase payments to low-income families with children in 2013-2014

Ukraine will increase payments to low-income families with children in 2013 and 2014, President Viktor Yanukovych has said.

"Last year, we have significantly increased government support for the poor and those unable to work. Now we should do this in relation to children. As a result, each low-income family will receive an average extra UAH 619 by the end of 2013 and UAH 976 in 2014," Yanukovych said at an extended meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers on Wednesday.

In addition, the assistance to those who have a disabled child in their care will be increased by more than 1.5 times by UAH 223 - UAH 302, the president said.

The president also urged the government to get rid of red tape delays, due to which orphans and children deprived of parental care do not get UAH 900 each month.

In addition, the president demanded that mother and child centers should open in each region, which will help the state in addressing the issue of abandoned children. The president also insisted on the establishment of day-care centers for children with disabilities in all regional centers, which should reduce the number of abandoned children.

Yanukovych also demanded the government should address the problems of children with vision disabilities in the near future.