A number of Armenian communities will receive subventions amounting  to 279 million drams

ArmInfo. The communities of Gegharkunik, Lori, Kotayk, Shirak, Tavush, Armavir and Vayots Dzor regions of Armenia will receive 279 million drams in the form of  subventions. The decision on this was taken at a government meeting  on July 26.

Presenting the draft decision, Minister of Territorial Administration  and Development of the Republic of Armenia Suren Papikyan stressed  that a number of communities of the above-mentioned regions have  started implementing development programs and now there is a need for  their co-financing from the state budget. The minister stressed that  the total cost of all programs is 881 million drams, however, as a  result of the tenders held, this amount was reduced to 666 million  drams. Thus, the share of co-financing of the government of the  country in the implementation of community programs is 279 million  drams. Suren Papikyan reminded that when implementing infrastructure  projects, the share of co-financing from the state budget is up to  60%, and by social programs - up to 40%. Currently, proposals are  being studied for some programs, but their cost will not exceed 2.5  billion drams. In this regard, the minister suggested transferring 10  billion drams for community development programs for the year 2019.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan pointed to the low activity of the  communities when submitting applications for public funds. In fact,  he continued, only AMD 200-300mln is used out of AMD 10bln.  In some  cases, such a low figure is due to the lack of funds in the budgets  of the communities. However, as the head of the Armenian government  emphasized, the disclosed crimes testify to the inefficient use of  available funds. "When the head of the community appoints his close  relatives to high positions and who, in fact, do not work, means not  the lack of funds, but their criminal dispersion," Nikol Pashinyan  said, adding that there are serious risks in this area. He pointed  out the importance of reviewing the entire procedure of public  procurement. "The concept of" tender "in the understanding of the  previous authorities should be reviewed so that state funds are used  as efficiently as possible," the head of government stressed.