Grija „puterii” pentru copii valoreaza mai putin de 4 lei pe luna
Source: Financiarul.ro.
New Front in Political Discourse: National Security vs. Child Welfare
After stirring public sentiment with their campaign against the so-called „parallel state” and greedy multinationals, the Social Democrats have shifted their focus to a new battleground: the conflict between intelligence services and the welfare of children.
In a surprising turn, they now position themselves as champions of children’s health, expressing concern that many children are not receiving adequate vitamin D. If their newfound dedication to child welfare is genuine, one must wonder why they have not previously implemented measures to ensure that children are healthier, better educated, and properly nourished and clothed.
Current State of Child Allowances
For those unaware, the state child allowance has remained stagnant at 84 lei per month since 2015.
„I propose reallocating a reasonable portion of the budget from the intelligence services to health programs that are crucial for Romania, particularly for the millions of children in our country. I believe that any initiative providing free vitamin D, an essential nutrient, can be classified as a matter of national security. This includes expanding programs for diabetic care-these elements will be detailed in the coming days. The health of Romanians, especially that of our children, is indeed a national security issue, just like food security,” stated Liviu Dragnea.
Shifting Priorities: Health Over Surveillance
There is a call for increased funding for children’s health and a reduction in the budget allocated to the questionable practices of intelligence agencies.
„If I were asked as a citizen what I desire more-a larger budget for security services or a program to support and treat children and those in need-I would unequivocally choose the latter,” remarked Carmen Dan, the Minister of Internal Affairs.
Budgets for intelligence services have been on the rise for the past 15 years, whether justified or not. As Calin Popescu Tariceanu pointed out, „This is a serious topic that deserves attention.”
Stagnation in Child Support
Despite four years passing since the last increase in child allowances, children still receive only 84 lei per month. Last September, the government rejected a proposal to raise the monthly allowance to 200 lei, citing a lack of specified financial sources from the proposal’s initiators.
Recently, the same government dismissed two additional legislative proposals aimed at increasing the allowance: one suggested raising the amount for children aged 2 to 18 to 150 lei, while the other sought a mere adjustment based on the average inflation rate.
Government’s Stance on Budget Adjustments
Regarding the proposal to increase the allowance to 150 lei, the PSD-ALDE government stated: „Caution is advised in drafting regulations that could lead to significant budgetary increases, risking exceeding the 3% of GDP limit set for the budget deficit and triggering excessive deficit procedures against Romania.”
For those curious about the government’s reluctance to increase child allowances by a mere 4 lei per month-an adjustment of 5% for 2018-let’s examine their reasoning.
The government argues against the necessity of a legal indexation of allowances, citing years of negative inflation (notably during the technocratic governance period, which saw a rate of -0.5%). They also project a decrease in inflation rates, estimating a drop from 2.8% in 2019 to 2.4% by 2022.
In summary, the government’s position on the proposed increase to 150 lei reflects a broader reluctance to adjust financial commitments, emphasizing the need for fiscal prudence in light of potential budgetary constraints.
Written by: DIGI24.ro
