Complains that last year he personally had to interfere in several disputes over landfills. Calls on his National Front movement to enact "public control" over waste disposal. Calls for all urban landfills to be eliminated within six years. Calls for more environmentally sensitive incineration plants and other disposal methods.
Putin offers "a raft of handouts" -- but will everyone fit on the raft?
Criticizes officials at all levels for acting as if there is no problem. Says these concerns absolutely must be addressed.
Turns to problem of environment and politically sensitive topic of waste disposal. "Many landfills are overflowing and are located near residential areas."
Discusses need to develop hospice care and assistance to family care-givers.
Discusses problems with cancer diagnosis and treatment. Says much progress has been made since the 1990s when people had to go abroad for treatment, but much remains to be done. Especially in the area of improving early diagnosis.
A reminder of one of the pressing problems Putin may or may not address -- in the speech and in real life:
- By Carl Schreck
The applause for Putin's raft of promised social handouts has indeed been reserved so far. Opposition leader Aleksei Navalny says clearly the crowd like last year's "cartoons about rockets" better.
Calls for construction of two world-class children's rehabilitation centers in the regions.