site.btaTransport Minister Petkov: "Over 50,700 People Receive Warm Lunch Yearly"

May 23 (BTA) - Over 50,700 people in 211 municipalities receive warm lunch all year round under the Operational Programme for Food and/or basic Material Assistance, Labour and Social Policy Minister Bisser Petkov told journalists during his visit to Bansko (Southwestern Bulgaria). Petkov and Bansko Mayor Georgi Ikonomov opened a renovated soup kitchen with the Bansko Home Social Patronage, Petkov's Ministry said Thursday. The soup kitchen provides for the warm lunch of over 250 people in the region.

The renovation of the soup kitchen was realized with the financial aid of two projects with the Labour Ministry. The outer renovation and the energy saving measures were implemented under the Beautiful Bulgaria project. The Social Protection Fund paid for the purchasing of appliances for the kitchen. Bisser Petkov noted that the initiative, its realization, and the provision of co-financing for the project are the doing of Bansko Municipality, thus turning it into an excellent partner to Bulgaria's social policy.

The municipality offers a total of 17 social services, 14 of which are state delegated, and three are financed by the municipality, Petkov said. Bansko is among the first 15 municipalities to sign contracts with the Operational Programme Human Resources Development managing authority for providing home care to people with disabilities and to elderly people unable to cater for themselves. IG/TH

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