A meeting of All-Russia People's Front, where Dr. Gafurov serves as a co-chairman, was held in Kazan on 12th February.
The President's visit was dedicated to a large-scale discussion of the Housing and Urban Environment National Project, one of the new policy directions proposed by Putin after his re-election in 2018.
Several days ago, Rector Gafurov met with social activists and listened to their concerns about the new garbage collection and treatment reform, which he conveyed to the head of state yesterday. Dr. Gafurov also mentioned the problems that this particular reform brings with regards to increasing utility bills. Both matters were discussed later that evening by the State Council Presidium.
Young activists of the People's Front continued the topic and proposed to include a regional garbage treatment operator's phone number into each utility bill. (In Russia, there is a unified bill for all types of services, so that information can reach all inhabited households).
The President supported the initiatives and mentioned that Russia has never created a full-scale recycling industry. This is an important question, and, moreover, it needs sizable investment. He emphasized that community organizations are important participants of the reform process.
During the meeting with activists, several other initiatives on urban renovation, housing, public transit, and banking were put forth.
Source text: Adelya Shemelova, Natalia Doroshkevich
Translation: Yury Nurmeev