“Optimization” in Saraktash: clubs are closed in three villages

At the meeting of the head of the district administration Maxim Mitin and other officials with residents of the Vasilievsky village council, people were, in fact, put before the fact. Officials spoke about the problems of cultural institutions – the state of the material and technical base and low funding. And then they made a decision to liquidate.

Touched "optimization" and the village of Kulchumovo - it is larger. It didn't close, but it will cut a quarter of the library janitor's rate and another quarter of the club's rate. According to public activist Nurlan Munjasarov, the authorities decided to liquidate the club in Tatar Saraktash and reduce the rate of the head - the only employee who actually combines the posts of a janitor and a janitor of premises. “At the meeting, residents strongly opposed the closure of the club. They rightly believe that this will hit the accessibility of cultural services for the population and create social risks, he said.

It is worth mentioning the context of the meeting. It was held on October 1 – the Day of the elderly. Visitors to the club are very old, so they appreciated such a “gift” from the authorities. This is more eloquent than any congratulatory words addressed to them in abundance by officials that day. In addition, residents note, before the elections, they did not even hint at such an outcome with the clubs.

Now about what's happening in the neighborhood. It seems that Saraktash will not be the only territory in the region where cultural institutions are closed. In the Adamovsky district on October 9, the authorities initiated a mass survey of residents about the liquidation of 12 clubs and branches of libraries in different settlements. “The questionnaire intended for voting accurately reproduces the text of the question “Do you agree with the liquidation ...” and possible options for the expression of the will of the survey participant (Yes or No), with empty squares for the relevant marks, and the survey participant is invited to express his opinion on the substance of the issue”, – stated in the official message of the administration of the Adamovsky district. The survey lasted until October 19, although the opinion expressed by the absolute majority of residents can be guessed in advance. Will the administration listen to this opinion, or is it only necessary to follow a formal procedure, as in the Saraktash district?

There's two things. The first is the essence of “optimization”: the closure of clubs in small villages means that people, especially the elderly, simply have nowhere to go. Officials themselves recognize that clubs are real centers of cultural and social life of villages, but this does not save them from liquidation. The second is the procedure: in the Saraktash district, people were confronted with a fact, in Adamovsky, a survey is conducted, but formulated in such a way that the result is predictable. And in both cases, the question arises: is this the real opinion of the residents or a formality for the report? It seems that the autumn “clubfall” will happen not only in these two areas of Orenburg, – said Orenday.

Do you think that clubs in small villages should be maintained at all costs, or is “optimization” justified in the face of budget deficits?