Help for parents with three or more children in Nikšić: A logical move due to the decreasing population or populism?

Families with three minor children will receive 100 euros per month, while those with four or more will receive twice the amount.

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Detail from the Nikšić branch of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Photo: Screenshot/TV Vijesti
Detail from the Nikšić branch of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Photo: Screenshot/TV Vijesti
Disclaimer: The translations are mostly done through AI translator and might not be 100% accurate.

In order to reduce emigration from Nikšić and increase the birth rate, the local government, after the devastating results of the census, decided to provide assistance to parents with three or more minor children, in the amount of 100 to 200 euros per month.

Citizens have been submitting applications since the day before yesterday, and the first benefits will be paid next month.

The opposition Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) supports any form of aid, but sees this as a populist move to gain votes in the upcoming local elections in April.

The Nikšić branch of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MUP) is crowded. There is a queue outside to issue documents. There is also a crowd in the Municipality of Nikšić, where, starting from January 15, the necessary documentation for a new social service - parental benefits for families with three or more minor children - is being submitted.

"Parents, foster parents, adoptive parents and guardians must have a registered residence in the area, or rather on the territory of the municipality of Nikšić. It is very important that parents submit an extract from the birth register for each child with the application. It is also important that the person submitting the application submits a copy of their ID card and bank account number, so that, of course, this financial benefit can be paid," said Jovana Lalić, from the Secretariat for Social Welfare.

Families with three minor children will receive 100 euros per month, while those with four or more will receive twice the amount.

The municipality decided on this form of support for families with multiple children after data from the last population census showed that the town under Trebjes had lost more than five and a half thousand residents in 12 years.

The opposition DPS says they support any initiative aimed at reducing migration processes and improving the birth rate, but they say the local authorities' intentions are not sincere.

"Nikšić must not be held hostage to short-term and populist policies or moves. Because it seems that the local government in Nikšić is aware of the problems and challenges faced by citizens, only when those famous elections approach, we clearly read the intention, that is, that such a decision and initiative comes exclusively as a politically motivated move with the aim of gaining votes before the elections," said Kristina Šćepanović, a DPS councilor.

The budget has planned 100 thousand euros for parental benefits, and the responsible municipal secretary Dejan Ivanović told Television Vijesti that this figure will be corrected based on the applications received.

His colleague, responsible for the budget, Zoran Šoškić, also pointed out that there will be money for this, and the first benefits will be paid out next month.

In addition to supporting parents with three or more children, the Municipality of Nikšić has significantly increased benefits for newborn children, and from September, all elementary school students will receive 50 euros for the purchase of school supplies.

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