1.5 MILLION ARMENIANS APPLY FOR SOCIAL CARDS

ArmenPress
June 14 2004

YEREVAN, JUNE 14, ARMENPRESS: A senior official of the Armenian
employment and social affairs ministry told Armenpress that some
1.5 million of Armenian citizens have applied for social cards. The
deadline for application is July 1. Hasmik Khachatrian, head of the
ministry’s department for public relations, said the most active
segment of Armenians will receive their social cards in due time.

The government has earmarked 120 million this year for introduction
of social card system, a move expected largely to raise the
efficiency of government bodies dealing with immediate needs of the
population. The new system is supposed to reduce also the number of
corrupt practices. Using social cards, individuals will be able to pay
their utility fees, open a bank account, receive social allowances,
pensions, and so on. A number of softer procedures are supposed to be
effective parallel to the introduction of the system to help citizens
avoid major problems.