YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 6, NOYAN TAPAN. In 2006, the social sector was financed from the RA state budget in the amount of over 52.3 bln drams. The execution index made 94.3%. The deviation is mainly conditioned by savings and by the low execution indices of a credit program and a grant program implemented with the assistance of the World Bank. Expenditures on the social sector increased by 18.5% or 8.2 bln drams as compared with 2005. The RA deputy minister of finance and economy, chief treasurer Atom Janjughazian stated this at the September 5 joint sitting of the RA National Assembly standing committees. According to him, pension allocations amounted to 16.6 bln drams in 2006. The execution index made 98.3% as a result of savings. Expenditures on state benefits for the population made 25.5 bln drams, ensuring 95.5% fulfilment of the program and exceeding by 15.6% the 2005 index. 24.2% of the indicated sum was allocated for poverty family benefits and one-off monetary aid, which made up 99.8% of the program. Out of 181,907 families registered in the family vulnerability assessment system in 2006, 130,190 families or 71.6% of registered ones received the right for family benefits. 9,561 families or 5.2% of registered ones received urgent assistance. About 4,200 vulnerable families received one-off monetary aid in connection with birth of a baby, and 14,220 families - in connection with their children becoming first-formers. In 2006, the social allocations on social security measures were spent on financing 35 social programs, amounting to 4.8 bln drams or 98.9% of the envisaged sum. Expenditures on other social programs made over 4.2 bln drams or by 27.6% less than the programmed index. The low execution index was conditioned by the low execution index of the credit program on management of the social protection sector, which was implemented with WB assistance.

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