Background

Large groups of people of Roma origin reside in Botevgrad and in the mayoralties of Litakovo, Novachene and Skravena. As all over the country, their social and economic status is considerably lower than the country average: high unemployment, poor lifestyle, bad health and high illiteracy. The municipal management consistently works for the limitation and elimination of the effects of the unequal status of local Roma people. Municipal management believes that the Roma community should be active in the public field. In this regard, the Municipality initiated and supported the establishment of a Municipal Roma Council.

Practice

The Municipal Roma Council in the Municipality of Botevgrad was established on January 7, 2000, in the presence of municipal management. Later, the Council established units in the villages of Litakovo, Novachene and Skravena. The Council is comprised of 17 representatives from the Roma community. The Council has a chairperson, two deputy-chairs, a secretary and a cashier. Regulations on the structure and the functioning of the Council were developed and adopted. The Council has six committees on: education, culture and sports; social assistance; housing assistance; healthcare; hygiene and town planning; public order. The Council meets twice a month. The meetings are attended by representatives of the municipal administration. At the meetings, the Council discusses problems of the Roma community in the municipality and identifies measures to solve them. The Council develops funding proposals for cultural and sports events, provides one-time assistance to Roma students, determines the allocation of humanitarian aid, organizes lectures on healthcare and social issues. The Council also organizes seasonable cleaning of Roma neighborhoods and identifies measures on public order in areas with prevailing Roma population.

Results

The municipal administration and the Roma Council jointly developed a program on working with the Roma people through 2003. Council representatives, together with police officers, formed patrols to preserve public order in areas with prevailing Roma population. A Roma representative was included in the newly established municipal police force. The inhabitants of the Roma neighborhood did spring cleaning of the neighborhood and cleaned the Stara Reka riverbed. A Roma children folk-group was established and has taken part in different celebrations. Sponsors have many times donated food, clothes, medicines, etc., that were distributed between the Romas. On proposal by the Roma Council, the Municipal Council votes to provide financial assistance to Roma students, as well as funding for the children s folk group, for Roma holidays, etc. The water mains along one of the largest streets in the Roma neighborhood were replaced.