Penza, 26 November 2012. PenzaNews. The representatives of the City Committee of the Communist Party held a protest action against the alleged reduction of regional budget expenditures on health, education, culture and agriculture, which took place in the square named after V. Belinsky in Penza on Monday, November 26. Around ten people took part in the action. One activist of Communists City Committee held a single picket with a poster that read “Communist Party — for quality and free medical care.” Other protesters handed out leaflets with information about the expenditure reduction plans.

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According to the First Secretary of Communist Party City Committee Svetlana Isaeva, a regional draft budget for 2013–2015 seems to be anti-social rather than oriented to the needs of the people.

“The health and education expenditure are to lose about 50% of allocations for the next three years, the culture is to get only 12,9% of allocations of the previous years,” she said in an interview to news agency “PenzaNews.”

According to Svetlana Isaeva, soon the medical institutions will cut the number of hospital beds, and the time spent by the patient in the hospital will be reduced to only five days, which is unacceptable.

In turn, a member of the regional committee of the Communist Party Dmitry Filyaev suggested that health, education and culture are currently in need of government support.

“The budget not only regional, but especially federal gives great support to state corporations and banks. In our opinion, these costs need to be redistributed to the social sphere,” he said, adding that the development of health, education, culture and agriculture can also be financed from the stabilization fund of the country.

Dmitry Filyaev stressed that Penza communists would continue their protest actions.

“The next action is scheduled for Friday, November 30. It will be held on the fountain square in Penza,” the agency interlocutor summed up.