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Publication of the journal Obektiv, number 158 of 2008 author Hristo Hristov
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1 OBEKTIV
Hristo HRISTOV
Over 40% of the Roma on social allowances believe that
the state should seek and provide them with employ-
ment instead of money. This is the conclusion of a survey
conducted by the S.E.G.A. Foundation among almost 800
Roma from 12 neighbourhoods in Varna, Dupnitsa, Haskovo,
Karlovo and other municipalities, whose unemployment com-
pensations have been terminated.
Half of the interviewed (50.7%) who were on permanent
social allowances, living in isolated neighbourhoods, have
fourth-grade education. Twenty percent have primary edu-
cation (completed eight grade). The group includes also one
person with an university degree and six others who have signed
up for tertiary education, but haven’t completed it. The S.E.G.A.
survey sums up that a sparse 7.8% were included in literacy
and vocational training courses. It also indicates that the at-
tendance of programs, such as From Social Allowances to
Employment and vocational re-training courses, does not in-
crease employment opportunities. The revenues of a large
percentage of the unemployed come from the social and
child allowances paid by the regional labour bureaus and the
municipalities. Due to the small number of employed, very few
of them count on salaries. The people of this ethnic group
usually get seasonal jobs, such as picking tobacco, rose hips,
herbs and mushrooms or in the construction sector.
According to the foundation, there is a clear trend to-
wards the inclusion in the employment programs of people
with more advanced education degrees, even though they
are not in greatest need. Sociologists comment that these
programs are ineffective.
A young family with 4 children:
COLLECTING WASTE FROM THE CONTAINERS
The residents of the Roma neighbourhood in Karlovo say
there are families living in desolate misery in their
neighbourhood. I went to the Meden Dol neighbourhood in
Karlovo to see how the Roma are living after the minister of
labour and social policy Emilia Maslarova terminated their
social assistance allowances. Several men were paving a
street. It was raining. I asked them why they were working in
the rain and the answer was they were in a hurry because the
mayor might put a stop to the repairs. I asked them to take
me to a poor family. And they told me they could take me to
more than one. While we walked down the muddy streets, I
ran into a little house that was in contrast with everything
around. I asked if this was a toilet. The answer was that it a
place where people were living. To call it a little house is an
exaggeration, but a home it was. The rickety room was made
of four pieces of plywood studded with planks for greater
strength. There was no roof, just wooden slabs covered with
cracked linoleum. An improvised door was tied to a tree by a
wire in a mock-up entrance. I was amazed that the door was
The Roma want employment from the state
closed with a wire when the gaps around were so large you
could put your hand right through them. The room even had
a window, covered with a hanging blanket soaked by the
torrential rain. The gloomy weather painted a sad story in my
mind. I could not believe that people were living here! I asked
where the people were and was told they were ·around the
containers”. I decided to wait for their return. I was soaked.
We sought cover in a cafÈ . Fortunately, the whole family
came in. Radka Ivanova (27) and Angel Stoyanov (28) from
Karlovo have four children aged 11 months to 7 years. We
invited them in the cafÈ . Radka and Angel are half-orphans.
Fate had them meet. Their eyes, sad and wet, spoke of their
troubles. Angel has a beard. He radiates calm, speaks softly
and slowly. Speaks as a wise man. They have not received
social allowances since the beginning of the year. Radka is
getting a child allowance of BGN 100 (EUR 50) a month.
Before the termination of the social allowances, she was re-
ceiving BGN 54 (EUR 27) a month in allowances. I asked her
how they were living. ·I don’t know what these laws are.
Before, they gave me an allowance of BGN 54 and threat-
ened they would stop it if we were caught working or selling
garbage. They’ve terminated the allowances now, but
haven’t given us any work. It’s not like 54 leva were much of
assistance, but combined with the child allowance were at
least enough for medicines. The children are young. Did you
see the place where we are living? We’re only thinking of our
sustenance. We’re now coming back after picking linden.
We gather and sell it for 2 leva (EUR 1) per kilo. We search the
containers, collect garbage and sell it. The children also come
with us. Wherever we go, they come as well. The three older
ones ride on Angel’s bike: One on the handles, another one
on the basket over the front tyre and the third one on the
basket over the back tyre. I carry the youngest one. I’m afraid
to leave them alone, the room may fall on them and crush
them. Or they might take the road”. Angel joins in: ·The bike
is our family transport. It might amaze you, but it’s my assis-
tant and friend. It helps us make ends meet.” I couldn’t help
it: ·You are young and intelligent people. Why did you have
four children?” Answers Radka: ·The children are from God.
God wanted us to have that many. We are believers and
God forbids abortion. We’ll raise them. The children are not a
burden to us, we just hope they are healthy.” Do you blame
your situation on anyone? Angel: ·The blame is for the state
and the laws it makes. These laws are not made to help us
but to erase us. We want work, there is no work. They give us
no assistance. Who would the state help, the Roma? They
would rather have us starve. There is no one to protect us.
They raise the prices of food, electricity, water, medicines,
and terminate our allowances. The way I look, would you hire
me? I have no bathroom to shower, I have no change of
clothes. Yes, I can buy some, but for a lev I’ll buy bread and
feed the children tonight; but I can’t buy a shirt for a lev. The
truth is the state doesn’t care about us. The politicians know
that the Roma rely on allowances and are trying to get rid of
us. That’s what it’s all about!”�