Certain categories of citizens will receive increased benefits

The Parliament increased Friday by 50% the monthly benefits for war invalids, participants in the Second World War, in liquidating consequences of the Chernobyl catastrophe, for persons decorated with orders and medals. The benefits for I degree invalidswill be of 600 lei, for II degree - 450 lei, for III degree – 375 lei. Participants in the Second World War will receive benefits worth 300 lei. Persons decorated with orders and medals for hard work and impeccable military service served in the years of the Second World War will enjoy a benefit of 75 lei. MP Veaceslav Untila stated that the 50% increase is not significant and proposed to double the benefits, as against the present ones. On the other hand, MP Dumitru Diacov proposed to adopt a bill, passed by the Parliament one year ago, which provides to increase the pensions of the victims of political repressions. These proposals were rejected by the majority of MPs. Some 19 mln lei will be additionally allocated by the state budget to implement the provisions of the law. About 17,000 persons of the respective categories will enjoy them. Most of allocations come into effect as from 1 May 2007.