Commemorating the International Anti-Poverty Day, 17 October, the Poverty Reduction Committee held its twenty-third sitting at the Ada Municipal Assembly on 18 October. The agenda dealt with the establishment of appropriate mechanisms for the formation of poverty reduction committees at the local level.

Opening the sitting, Committee Chairperson Snezana Stojanovic-Plavsic stressed that poverty has been on the rise in the past few year due to the global economic crisis. The main cause of this tendency which also affected the economic growth in Serbia is unemployment. The economic crisis has had the biggest impact on the situation of the poorest section of the population.

She expressed an expectation that the economic recovery, whose effects are expected as soon as next year, would halt the trend.

The Committee Chairperson stressed that Ada Municipality, among the first in Serbia to create a Poverty Reduction and Youth Service, is an example of good practice in the sphere and other less developed municipalities in Serbia should follow Ada’s example and organise such services and implement activities aimed at assisting the most endangered and poverty reduction. She highlighted the importance of education as the fastest way to overcome poverty.

Vesna Civric, Head of the Ada Municipal Assembly Poverty Reduction Service, spoke of its activities during the five years of its existence. She stressed that, based on the Republic of Serbia Poverty Reduction Strategy, the municipality adopted a poverty reduction strategy of its own in early 2009, as well as a plan of measures and activities aimed at creating the material and other conditions for poverty reduction in socially most endangered groups (children, the elderly, disabled, refugees, Roma, rural population etc.). Seeking possibilities for new employment, more efficient social and health care and education, as well as measures for the improvement of the position of pensioners and elderly and working with young people are among the most important measures undertaken. The service works on the municipal territory in five sections: protection of poor and socially endangered persons, education, employment and housing, health care and environmental protection and working with young people. The Service has developed cooperation with local self-government authorities, state bodies, public institutions, funds and civil organisations.

The Committee members visited Novak Radonic elementary school in Mol where they discussed the current educational problems with the faculty. They also visited the day care center for socially endangered children and attended a recital organised by the pupils of the elementary school. At the end of the visit, the deputies introduced themselves to the children and answered their questions.

The Poverty Reduction Committee members were welcomed by Aron Conka, Ada Municipal Assembly President and deputy from Ada, Tamas Tot

In addition to Committee members Aniko Ziros-Jankelic, Dr Djura Mucenski, Dr Nikola Krpic and Nikola Savic, local self-government representatives also took part in the sitting.