With due implementation of the anti-crisis program, the poverty index would not be so high, Artsvik Minasyan, member of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) faction, told NEWS.am, referring to the WB report on poverty level in Armenia. According to Minasyan, the poverty level is Armenia is much higher than the 28.4% indicted in the report. “The number of poor people is much higher. If we consider the minimum social security budget, the poverty level will reach 50%,” Minasyan said. According to him, even the WB’s report confirms that the Government should revise its anti-crisis program.

The WB report indicates a sharp increase in the number of people living in abject poverty in Armenia – 6.9% this year against 3.6% last year. Minasyan said that social tension will soon be palpable. “Social tension will grow, and more homeless people and beggars will appear in the streets,” Minasyan said. He pointed out the need for increasing social payments.

Among “the poor” are also the migrants that failed to find jobs, as well as small businessmen, who came under administrative pressure and went bankrupt. The risk group also includes employees, whose wages are insufficient for their families. “I think that most of the 100,000 citizens below the poverty line are women, as their employment problem has not been resolved,” Minasyan said.

According to him, the Armenian Government announced a “defective” anti-crisis program, but failed to properly implement even such a program. The Government failed to ensure macroeconomic stability. As regards the industry, the Government supported individuals, rather than industrial sectors. The Government failed to implement a consumer promotion policy.

The WB report on poverty level in Armenia indicates that the poverty level reached 28.4% in the country in the 2nd quarter of 2009 against 23.5% last year. The percentage of people living in abject poverty reached 6.9% this year against 3.6% per 107,000 last year.