Donetsk, Jan 24 – DAN. A round table discussion on making rural areas attractive for young experts has taken place today in Donetsk, bringing together about fifty officials, social activists and students.

"We gathered here today to discuss an important issue of motivating young experts to settle in rural areas, the issue which has a long history. We are living in times of change and we have a chance to develop and preserve agriculture and to attract young people with new views and ideas," said the head of the Donbass Republic Social Movement executive office Natalia Volkova.

The Donetsk Republic parliamentary group leader Alexander Kostenko, the DPR minister of education and science Larisa Polyakova, the Republic’s acting Information Minister Igor Antipov, DPR’s acting Culture Minister Mikhail Zheltyakov, the minister of labor and social policy Larisa Tolstykina, DPR Youth, Sports and Tourism Minister Alexander Gromakov, the head of social organization Young Republic Nikita Kiosev presented their reports as well.

"We should create permanent jobs, we have plan for a number of events aimed at developing self-employment, teaching business planning, launching business such as breeding birds, vegetable cultivation and agro-processing. International practice indicates a lump sum for business development is helpful in attracting young people and job creation," Tolstykina.

She said the current legislation provides for social guarantees to workers such as 10 percent wages increase for some state employees working in rural areas, 40 percent wages increase for continuous employment in medicine, reduced household bills for education, health and culture officials.

Kostenko added that the issues discussed will be monitored and resolved. "We have discussed it and we shall embark on resolving existing issues." *ot