birgun.net, 7 November 2020, Mustafa M. Bildircin, photo: Birgün
While the number of the clergy employed in the public sector increased by 71% in 2020 compared to 2002, the increase in the number of teachers over the same period was 69%. According to the data provided by Minister of Family, Labor And Social Services Zehra Zümrüt Selçuk, 3.2 million households received social assistance in 2019.
The recent data provided to the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) Planning and Budget Commission by the Minister Selçuk revealed that the government’s policy preferences: the increase in the number of clergy employed in the public sector since 2002 has exceeded the increase in the number of teachers.
According to the report by Mustafa M. Bildircin from the newspaper Birgün, the TBMM’s Planning and Budget Committee met to discuss the 2021 budget of the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Services. At the meeting, Minister Selçuk shared the rate of increase in the number of public employments between 2002 and 2020. According to the data shared at the meeting,
- the number of public officials has grown from 2.6 million in 2002 to 4 million in 2020.
- the number of the clergy increased by 71% in 2020 compared to 2002, while the increase in the number of teachers over the same periods was 69%.
- while the increase in the number of teachers remained less than the increase in the number of religious leaders, the increase in the number of nurses, doctors, police officers, judges, and prosecutors over the last 18 years was recorded at 364%, 174%, 68%, and 176%, respectively.
MILLIONS OF HOUSELHOLDS NEED HELP
As per data shared by Minister Selçuk, 3 million 282 thousand 975 needy households received social assistance in 2019; in 2019 more than TL 55 billion was spent on social assistance.
Regarding the prevention of male violence against women, advocating that the legal infrastructure be strengthened for the prevention of violence against women with the law Minister Selçuk said that “we will implement the 4th National Action Plan, which is our roadmap to combat violence against women covering the years 2021-2025, in 2021”.
TEN THOUSAND OF CHILDREN ARE ON THE STREET
In Turkey, currently 198,907 children are under the risk of to be taken from their families due to the economic deprivation. The number of children working or begging on the street in on rise. According to data shared in the TBMM, mobile teams of the Ministry determined that more than 20,000 children were working on the streets.