Litvínov settles dispute with Romani social inclusion agency

Litvinov, North Bohemia, Feb 4 (CTK) - The Litvinov Town Hall and representatives of the Czech government Agency for Social Inclusion in Romany localities signed a cooperation memorandum yesterday, definitively settling their dispute from last summer.

The dispute broke out over the town's strategic document that was a condition for placing Litvinov's problematic Janov housing estate on the list of deprived localities.

"The partnership will make it possible, for instance, to prepare a big project funded from EU structural funds. It is the reconstruction of a former special school in Janov to a community and social centre for older children and youth. Money should also be gained for the centre's operation," Litvinov Mayor Daniel Volak (Civic Democrats, ODS) said yesterday.

He said the main point at issue was the agency's demand that housing be added to the three pillars of the strategic document, namely social work, employment, education and security of inhabitants.

The town was first reluctant to include housing in the document because it does not own the flats at the Janov housing estate and therefore has no opportunity to do anything about its problems.

"We have eventually reached agreement after one-year negotiations and found a suitable compromise for Janov," Volak said.

Agency director Martin Simacek said the signature of the memorandum definitively includes the Janov housing estate among 13 deprived localities in the country.

Litvinov raised the number of street workers to 16 last year. Five of them help Romany families living at the Janov housing estate.

The town has also offered 332 public service jobs, partially restricted gambling rooms, it consistently exacts debts and better cooperates with the non-profit sector.

Deputy mayor Martin Klika (Social Democrats, CSSD) said conditions for temporary housing in dormitories for the socially weak have been tightened, but thanks to this, several families have moved from them to rented flats.

The Litvinov Town Hall yesterday also met Janov inhabitants to get them acquainted with the results of the measures the town applied against unadaptable inhabitants in this locality last year.

Most of the 25 citizens present expressed satisfaction with the authority's approach. They said the situation at the housing estate was considerably better.

In spite of it some people criticised the Town Hall.

A 45-year-old inhabitant, for instance, called on the police to more often check the places where young people meet. They are noisy and disturb the elderly, throwing fireworks rockets at them, he added.

Janov settlement committee chairman Zdenek Kvapil had appreciated the town's measures. Since their previous meeting last October the situation has apparently improved in terms of order and peace in the streets, he added.

Volak recalled that the town had fulfilled most of its promises in this respect.

The Janov housing estate was included among deprived localities additionally in January 2009 after extremist demonstrations on the proposal of Dzamila Stehlikova (Green Party), then outgoing minorities and human rights minister.

Some 6000 people live at the estate. They are socially weak people who were moved to Janov from across the country. Many of them, mainly Romanies, are unemployed. The Romanies are not interested in acquiring education and are indebted.