#ARCTIC. #SIBERIA. THIS IS TAIMYR. Nornickel’s large-scale program for the indigenous peoples of the North is designed for five years with a total funding of over two billion rubles.
The project covers seven areas and 44 activities aimed at supporting traditional activities, protecting the original habitat, financing housing, medical, infrastructure, tourism and socio-cultural projects in Taimyr. Their list was formed with the direct participation of indigenous peoples.
According to Anfisa Nikiforova, first vice president of the North Indigenous Minorities Association in the Krasnoyarsk region, the North Indigenous Minorities Work department head at the Nornickel Polar Branch, today the company is implementing almost 30 activities out of the planned ones for a total of 1.3 billion rubles: new residential buildings and first-aid posts, cultural centers, housing for orphans are being constructed, computer equipment for schools, and much more are being purchased.
At the meeting, the participants touched upon the issue of personnel shortages and attracting young people to the villages. The construction of housing for orphans there could be a solution for the problem. Until recently, the company purchased apartments for orphans in Dudinka. Over the past three years, 15 young people have received keys.
Meanwhile, in the villages there are not enough specialists in the field of fishing, hunters, reindeer herders, veterinarians, seamstresses. At the suggestion of the communities, the company is ready to support the education of children from the villages in the country educational institutions on the condition that upon graduation, young people will return to work in Taimyr.
According to this scheme, the Students of Taimyr program for training at the Polar State University has been operating for the fourth year already. The company covers almost all expenses: for study, accommodation, transportation, additional courses, and also pays a scholarship of 20 thousand rubles to Taimyr students.
Since 2020, 40 people have already taken advantage of this unique opportunity. Thus, in the settlements, the issue of personnel shortage in traditional types of economic activity can be resolved. In addition, in order to create additional jobs, the Urular community proposed to create a bone and horn carving workshop in Dudinka.
Along with supporting traditional activities, this year the company began assessing the reserves of biological resources of water bodies in the Yenisey and Hatanga river basins. An analysis of reservoirs with the involvement of scientists will determine whether fishers can count on additional quotas for fishing.
The company also does a lot to help preserve and develop the traditions of the people of Taimyr. At the meeting, the Nornickel’s Polar Division supported the initiative of the communities to organize northern all-around competitions and the anniversary Day of the Reindeer Herder – a big holiday is planned for 2024 in Dudinka, the capital of Taimyr.
Another important decision of the Coordinating Council held was the development of a community action plan for 2024 and the possibility of additional financing by the company. Council members have to submit their proposals to Nornickel senior vice president Nikolay Utkin by October 1. We are talking about funds in excess of the two billion program. The company has provided such support twice over the past two years, allocating an additional 200 million rubles for initiatives, projects and community needs.
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Text: Victor Tsaryov, Photo: Nornickel Polar Division’s press service and Denis Kozhevnikov
