Starting from July 1, 2026, payments will begin for a new benefit that will be provided to all children under three years old, regardless of their families' income levels. The monthly amount of the benefit will be 1,200 soms.
According to data from the National Statistical Committee, approximately 445,000 children under the age of three live in Kyrgyzstan. This means that the monthly expenses for the benefit will amount to about 540 million soms, and the total budget for the program for the year will be around 6 billion soms, funded by the republican budget.
Sadyr Japarov, the President of the Kyrgyz Republic, noted that the decision to introduce the benefit was made in response to numerous appeals from citizens and is intended to support families during a critically important period of child development.
“A person's physical and mental abilities are formed in the early years of life, and this remains with them throughout their life. I strive to create a Kyrgyzstan where every child will be protected. We are doing everything possible for our children and the future of our country,” the president emphasized.
In Japarov's opinion, it is better to provide additional benefits to those who are not in urgent need than to leave even one truly needy child without support.
The new social support program has several key objectives:
- reducing the level of child poverty,
- ensuring guaranteed assistance to families,
- increasing the effectiveness of social support in the early years of a child's life.
Nazgul Turdubekova, director of the Public Fund "League of Child Rights Defenders," noted that the "Bala Yrysy" benefit is a wonderful initiative aimed at supporting all children and eliminating discrimination, ensuring access to social support regardless of place of residence.
“There is a lot of migration now: families and mothers with children often move, and they may not have permanent registration, which complicates the process of receiving benefits through local authorities and other state institutions.
Since almost 25% of children in Kyrgyzstan live in poverty, this approach helps to cover all segments of the population. For unemployed mothers, especially those with multiple children, this benefit will provide real support for purchasing essential food items. Additionally, the program relieves mothers from the need to gather unnecessary documents and prove their financial situation, which reduces corruption risks.
Regarding the amount of the benefit, it is currently small, so it is important to adjust it annually to account for inflation,” the expert added.
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