Transcript of the meeting:

Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon, friends!

I'm grateful to the centre's management for inviting me to see it in operation, and I have to say that this made a favourable impression on me. Mr Denezhkin (who manages a project to create jobs for disabled people at call centres) explained the situation with your help, Mr Romanov, and that of Mr Burov... This is, of course, a good example of working with people who have restricted movement, a very good example indeed.

Unfortunately, in Russia - and you know this better than anyone - the convention of interacting normally with disabled people has only recently started to form. Meanwhile, without any doubt whatsoever - and this is something everyone understands - a society can only be considered civilised and tolerant if as it treats its disabled citizens well. In this regard, unfortunately, we are only taking our first steps. This concerns both their environment, the legislation and, in essence, the attitude of society as a whole attitude towards this issue. I would very much like to see more of these centres, and this is something we will achieve, as in Moscow, with help from the regions, supported by the government of the Russian Federation.

Around 300,000-320,000 people with restricted movement register as job seekers in Russia, but only 80,000-85,000 find work. Clearly, this is not enough. It is true that now, under our programmes to improve the situation on the labour market as whole in relation to the crisis, some resources are directed towards placing people with restricted movement in work. I should say that 30,000 people have already used these programs last year. This year, we will continue and improve this work.

This, strictly speaking, is what I wanted to say at the beginning. If you have any questions, I'll try to answer them. Mr Lukichev, yes?

Alexander Lukichev: Yes. I worked for more than 30 years at the Russia Society for the Blind and learned a whole array of new skills. I started in the city of Serpukhov. Now, currently, for over a year, I have been working at a wonderful call centre, and I want to say that everything there is specially equipped, everything works like clockwork. First there is training and rehabilitation, for people who recently went blind or who have problems getting around. Then comes the job placement proper where any individual can choose any project.

I want to say, although I heard you say in your speech that this experience, this wonderful experience should... And I have nothing but the deepest respect for all those who developed this project and those who are putting it into practice across the entire Russian Federation. Indeed, this is a big deal for people who have poor vision, because people have families. I myself raised two children with my wife, now we already have three granddaughters, and I look at other people and feel sorry for them when I see them earning from 4,000 to 6,000 roubles working for companies. Thank you very much, if indeed it is the case that you will extend this opportunity to people all over Russia.

Vladimir Putin: We will try to do that. That is specifically why I came, in order to observe and familiarise myself with your experience here and then put the work needed into replicating it.

Tatiana Golikova (Russian Health and Social Development Minister): There is a waiting list of 10,000 people waiting for work...

Vladimir Putin: Ten thousand on the waiting list? Well, that's understandable, since the working conditions are indeed very good. And the most important thing is... and it is indeed also very important that the working conditions are exemplary. But it really matters how it is organised, how they treat people and train them, how the process itself is organised, their arrival, the transport infrastructure, how their holidays are handled.

So we have just seen a gym, seen how men and women exercise, and there are champions there. This is great. But we see people with restricted movement proving that their movement can only technically be called restricted in our paralympic teams' performance at the last Olympics, this year's Olympics. We are certainly proud of their achievements.

Dmitry Burov: Mr Putin.

Vladimir Putin: Go ahead.

Dmitry Burov: One extremely important issue today is the provision of education for disabled people. But we still do not see provisions being made for this in our universities: there aren't any teaching methods or programmes enabling people with impaired vision and other kinds of disabilities to be included in the educational process. And the obstacle is likely to be that our universities do not have the infrastructure they need to offer this opportunity, to give disabled people their rights to education, to equal opportunities, their equal rights, since it is still very hard for people with impaired vision to find their way around our universities, especially those requiring physical support. It is practically impossible to find one's way and move around. Library collections have not been adapted for people with impaired vision and often tutors themselves are not trained to teach them. How will this issue be resolved centrally, if it can be resolved?

Vladimir Putin: It is possible. Of course, it requires an integrated approach. And I'm confident that this should not only involve the university itself. It should involve education as a whole - preschool, school and university education.

We are currently developing a programme for preschools, so that children with restricted movement can have a shared space, so that they can get ready for school and then go to school together. We are allocating in the order of nine billion roubles for schools, I think.

Tatiana Golikova: We are now working on the Accessible Environment programme, which will deal with that very issue.

Vladimir Putin: Yes, but we are now allocating nine billion roubles so the federal government can support regions that are developing programmes to teach children with restricted movement together with their peers.

It is, in my view, extremely important for society to be able to develop that tolerance I mentioned at the outset. And, accordingly, we need to train teachers.

As for the universities, I think that at the very least, every part of the country should have a university that will be adapted so that people with restricted movement have unhindered access to education. Some examples of this already exist, but there are still far too few of them.

We will certainly make progress in this direction and expand it.

Dmitry Burov: Mr Putin, there is another very important aspect to this. So they get an education, but they need to develop further. After all, government money has been spent, and the graduate needs to find a job after graduation...

Vladimir Putin: That's why I said that the entire chain is important - from preschool to university to job placement.

You know, I observed some of your colleagues here, particularly those who are working, and everybody fulfils an important function.

Some of them are working directly on the order of the Health and Social Development Ministry and some of them are working on the order of relevant departments of the Moscow city government. And some are essentially working for private businesses where, by the way, they play a very important role, not only do they sell goods, but also, in fact, facilitate the de-monopolisation of the market.

I have just been talking with one of your colleagues, he's very bright and has a clear understanding of how a market economy works and what function it performs. I can tell you that such experts will undoubtedly be in demand.

Alexei Denezhkin: Mr Putin, using our experience and the development programme sponsored by the Moscow city government we are ready to find jobs for 10,000 people with impaired vision by establishing similar call centres, as Mr Luzhkov mentioned we are to organise eight such centres within a year. This will provide job placement for students and trained experts; in other words, this programme is being developed.

Vladimir Putin: So, Mr Denezhkin, the brainchild that has been created here and is functioning - is precious. But if I understand Mr Burov correctly, the issue is not only of setting up call centres like this, but enabling people with restricted movement to find employment, in their specialism, following graduation. This, of course, a separate, difficult task, but we must certainly tackle it.

Alexei Romanov: Allow me, Mr Putin, to ask an economic question. Our company has been established and is operating quite successfully. But our economy is indeed a market economy and every day, we put tremendous effort and energy into developing the company, primarily from the point of view of improving benefits for our staff, improving their quality of life and raising their salaries.

Currently our company is a specific example of cooperation with private business it is, I believe, one very important and rare example of private business entering this field, which often proves unprofitable, and successfully cooperating with government bodies. When we participate in various government tenders and bids held by federal and municipal authorities, we do not get any preferential treatment yet at the same time, it is already clear our company will employ several thousand disabled people by the end of the year.

But we're a private company, and this is in no way taken into account. We currently offer the very lowest prices currently in our line of business - I'm absolutely sure of that - and the quality we offer is certainly no lower, and often exceeds that of major competitors such as VimpelCom, Synterra, MegaFon and other companies that are battling it out with us on the call-centre services market. Unfortunately, this is not taken into account at all, even though we offer rock-bottom prices and a guaranteed quality service, but all other things being equal, other companies win the major tenders.

Tell me, please, in terms of this issue, could we do something so that those companies that are established with private capital, but where 75% of employees are disabled, could that fact be taken into account, so that there would be a level playing field?

Our employees have developed several proposals. We would be very grateful if you and your executive and legislative agencies would take these into account.

Vladimir Putin: Mr Romanov. You said that all other things being equal, you offer a higher-quality product at lower prices?

Alexei Romanov: Yes.

Vladimir Putin: If this is the case, then you should be able to win any tender, isn't that the case?

Alexei Romanov: Unfortunately, that's not how it works. We lost a tender to Sberbank, having actually offered everything...

Vladimir Putin: This does not indicate the presence or absence of any special preference, it indicates the quality with which these tenders are conducted, because if goods or services are offered of equal quality, but at lower prices, the company offering the lower prices should win.

Let's follow two paths, two lines of endeavour. First, we should re-examine how tenders and bids are conducted - what the rules are and the quality of these tenders and bids. Second, we, of course, will put some thought into it, and I will certainly direct the Economic Development Ministry, which formulates these rules, to mull this over. Some benefits do exist for creating jobs for movement-impaired people.

Since the start of 2010, we have allocated more than 300 million roubles to business from the federal budget, I think it was 322 million, for partial subsidies of equipment costs for companies, private companies, that employ people with restricted movement, to use for equipping the workplace. This works out at around 30,000 roubles per location. This is direct support for these companies and it is also one way of creating jobs for people with restricted movement.

We could establish preferential conditions for any tender or we could simply establish more beneficial conditions for organising the work itself. And that is another course of action. Let's consider all three components. I promise you, a directive to that effect will certainly be formulated.

Alexander Romanov: Here there is the legal element that if the founders are a group of disabled people or a public organisation of people with disabilities, as for example our large public organisations are, they would have obvious priority. If it is a private company...

Vladimir Putin: Understood. Alright. I've taken the document, and understood it. We will look into it for sure, I promise.

So, go ahead.

Yekaterina Romanova: I just want to add something on this issue of reimbursing rent at above average rates in constituent entities of the Russian Federation for organisations where a minimum of 70%-75% of staff are disabled. The money saved could be spent either on increasing the wages for people with disabilities or on improving their working conditions.

Vladimir Putin: We'll think about how that could work. Rent is set by regions, and frequently even by municipalities. But nevertheless the idea is clear, we will think about it for sure. It's a good idea and I think it's viable and achievable.

Yekaterina Romanova: One more question, please? Could you say whether there will be any reductions in benefits for disabled people based on, say, matching their working day to the standard or shortening it?

Vladimir Putin: No. We are not even considering reducing any benefits.

Yekaterina Romanova: I think it would be appropriate. It is unprofitable for many organisations to employ an individual who works one, two or three hours less than a regular employee, who takes frequent breaks and who is flaunting his health issues ...

Vladimir Putin: Clearly. He's not flaunting it, but profiteering out of it...

Yekaterina Romanova: He would not fulfil the conditions...

Vladimir Putin: Yes. You know that this is something we should discuss with organisations representing the interests of people with restricted movement and limited abilities; because here we need to, of course, create conditions in which they will not be forced out of their jobs. But their interests, including the conditions formulated by medical organisations, should be guaranteed. We need to examine this closely. We need to think before making a decision, we need to weigh everything up, although I understand what you have now proposed. The problem exists, let's think about it, I have made a note of it and will keep it in mind.

Alexander Lukichev: Could I ask one more question, Mr Putin?

Vladimir Putin: Yes, please go ahead.

Alexander Lukichev: Mr Putin, could you consider the issue of transferring outsourcing - I mean to our call centre - information and assistance services from state structures, state corporations and so on (hands Mr Putin papers).

Vladimir Putin: Go on, go on.

Alexander Lukichev: I am just nervous, sorry. Please have a look through them it if you consider it necessary. Because I think that if they were to share a small proportion of it with us, people's lives will improve even more, and there will be more work and more projects.

Vladimir Putin: I completely agree. I will work on them for sure.

Alexander Lukichev: Thanks.

Vladimir Putin: But you know that every year I personally organise a "direct-line," live phone-in session, and the services of companies such as yours, of course, are extremely in-demand.

Alexander Lukichev: Please do turn to us next year (laughter.) We would be so pleased to take those calls we will send you all the details.

Vladimir Putin: Mr Lukichev, why should we put it off till next year? We will certainly do so this year.

Alexander Lukichev: Very good, thank you.

Remarks: Thank you. Thank you. Everyone will be grateful to you.

Alexander Romanov: Mr Putin. Mr Lukichev also probably had the following in mind, you saw our paralympic athletes...

Alexander Lukichev: Yes, yes. I am just nervous...

Alexander Romanov: Our Paralympics and everything connected with the work carried out by the Paralympic Committee of the Russian Federation, I think that among other things, we could offer them the highest-quality information services of the kind that the Paralympic Committee and subsequently our athletes and foreign athletes require.

Vladimir Putin: I agree.

Alexander Romanov: We can provide English-speaking operators, teach them and train them. We have the staff and the experts.

Vladimir Putin: I agree. Accordingly, I want to convey the following to you. I hope that during our preparations for the Olympic Games, our southern resort of Sochi will be the first city in the country to be best adapted to the needs of people with restricted movement. We will do this in full compliance with IOC rules. And then I hope that other communities, other cities and towns will follow Sochi's example. Well, with regard to those information services you mentioned, your expertise could certainly be of use during preparations for the Olympics, and during the games themselves. I will definitely issue the necessary instructions to our agencies.

Alexander Romanov: Thank you very much.

Vladimir Putin: You're welcome, Mr Romanov.

Alexander Pekhov: Mr Putin. One very important issue is creating a barrier-free environment. Disabled people require adaptations to be made to their local environment, this is very important. I would like to know, will action be taken on this?

Vladimir Putin: Yes. This year, we will draft and adopt the Accessible Environment government programme. It will be distributed. Corresponding standards will be introduced in construction, architecture and so on. But I do not think this is sufficient. I think that the term Accessible Environment should include the training of everyone who works with the general public, with the community. All of them - doctors, teachers, and those who work in the social sector - should adapt and be trained to work with people with restricted movement or limited abilities. This is the extremely important, because it creates the corresponding mental attitude in society.

And this should also be one of the elements in place, and perhaps it is no less important than the physical environment, to ensure that any individual, any citizen, can live comfortably in Russia regardless of his or her physical condition and health.

And this too will be part of the Accessible Environment government programme.

Yuri Luzhkov (Mayor of Moscow): Mr Putin, here in Moscow ...

Vladimir Putin: I know that it is better here than everywhere else...

Yuri Luzhkov: There are standards that sports and recreation centres also adhere to in various ways. For the Moscow underground, requirements for a barrier-free environment, and retail sales premises...

Vladimir Putin: And public health services, social facilities?

Yuri Luzhkov: For various sites, public buildings and facilities, these are the standards to which we adhere. Recreational zones, pedestrian crossings... These are all locations where all these standards should certainly be met in new construction and renovation work.

Vladimir Putin: Mr Luzhkov, I know. Thank you very much.

Dmitry Burov: Mr Putin, if we could also implement an idea like this, to make it more convenient, easier, for people with impaired vision and the blind to move around if we were to use a navigation system or appliances which would enable...

Vladimir Putin: I know that there are sound signals on pedestrian crossings. Not on all of them, but on some.

Dmitry Burov: That's not enough. You know that cars have these SatNav systems. Ones just like that, or similar but more precise ones, could be made to help people with disabilities get around.

Vladimir Putin: It is possible. Mr Burov, in order to do this, we first need to have good mapping and exact information about the local environment. Unfortunately, we still do not have this. We are now implementing the GLONASS space positioning programme. We have figured out that one major and expensive issue in this programme is mapping. But the idea is absolutely spot on, and in general, of course, we need to think about how it could be implemented.

Thank you very much, and all the best!