In Novosibirsk, authorities proposed to introduce electronic grocery cards for the poor people

"If we find a successful mechanism, then already from 2022 part of the funds from the city budget will be directed to the purchase of food for those in need precisely through an electronic card", - the Interfax news agency quoted the deputy chairman of the local Council of Deputies Anton Tyrtyshny as saying.

Anton Tyrtyshny added that according to polls, 8% of Novosibirsk residents do not have enough money for food.

At the moment, the mayor's office of Novosibirsk provides the poor residents of the city with food sets, but, according to the deputy chairman of the council, the composition of such a set is fixed, which means that some people may not need some of the food, since they are contraindicated for their health, or they are simply not used to eating them. The practice of electronic ration cards will allow citizens to independently purchase the necessary food products, although alcohol and tobacco products will still be impossible to purchase with the ration cards.

Olga Samarina, director of the department of the Accounts Chamber, said on February 3 that they are also considering the possibility of introducing food certificates into circulation as one of the measures of social assistance to the poor. Such a certificate would allow families to decide for themselves which foods to buy.