YEREVAN, February 18. /ARKA/. The government of Armenia has approved today a new set of measures designed to provide assistance to the people of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), Labor and Social Affairs Minister Mesrop Arakelyan said at a government meeting on Thursday.
He said the cost of the measures is 30 billion drams for a period of 4 months. As a result, the total cost of the assistance to Nagorno-Karabakh provided by Armenia will grow to 61 billion drams,” Arakelyan said.
Almost the same amount is allocated by the Artsakh government that has undertaken to pay the residents’ utility bills. It also compensates for companies’ income tax, for individuals’ mortgage and consumer loans.
The Artsakh government has also made some tax changes to stimulate business, in particular, cutting the rate of income tax to 15% and zeroing it for some other types of businesses. It also has exempted small businesses from fixed taxes.
According to the minister, about 100 thousand Artsakh residents have received assistance in the amount of 68 thousand drams, and about 35 thousand citizens, internally displaced persons from Artsakh, received 300 thousand drams each.
The new set of measures are designed for a period of 4 months and starting from March 2021 the residents of Artsakh will be receiving 68 thousand drams each month with the exception of men aged 18-63 and those without disabilities. This is expected to stimulate employment programs.
The assistance will be credited to beneficiaries’ bank cards. A simplified method is designed for the disabled and pensioners, who will receive assistance directly with their benefits or pension.
Citizens will be able to submit electronic applications from February 25 and receive assistance monthly.