A resident of the Voskresensky municipal district opened a studio thanks to a social contract.

      Photo: from Svetlana Filatova's personal archive

      A resident of Voskresensky municipal district, Svetlana Filatova, opened her own clothing atelier thanks to a social contract.

      As Svetlana explained, the idea to organize a sewing production had been conceived for a long time. With specialized training as a fifth-category tailor, she took orders and sewed clothes at home. Over time, the number of orders increased, and when she learned about the government social assistance tool, she developed a clear plan to implement her idea.

      In April 2025, Svetlana found a suitable premises for rent, then drafted a business plan and went to the social protection department at her place of residence. By May, her initiative was approved, and she was allocated 350,000 rubles. The funds were used to purchase necessary equipment: an industrial machine for heavy fabrics, a machine for lightweight fabrics, an industrial overlock, a steam generator, a furrier machine, a domestic machine for buttonholes and zigzag, a large cutting table, a cabinet for orders and accessories, as well as a table for household sewing machines, a printer, and a computer. The remaining amount was spent on interior decoration of the atelier. The funds also covered two months of rent.

      "Since I opened my atelier quite recently, I have few new clients at the moment, but that’s only a matter of time. I am full of optimism and have big plans for the future. I will increase advertising and expand my client base. To keep up with everything, I plan to hire an assistant," Svetlana Filatova shared.

      The Ministry of Social Policy of the Nizhny Novgorod Region reported that since the beginning of 2025, around 2,200 social contracts have been signed in the region. Over 1,400 people entered into social contracts for developing individual entrepreneurship, 34 for maintaining a personal subsidiary farm, more than 400 for employment purposes, and approximately 300 for overcoming a difficult life situation. Over 1.1 billion rubles from federal and regional budgets have been allocated for these purposes.

      To enter into a social contract, it is necessary to draft a business plan and contact the social protection department at the place of residence. An application can also be submitted remotely via the "Gosuslugi" portal.

      It’s worth recalling that this social support measure is provided to low-income families or low-income single citizens who find themselves in difficult life situations and, due to reasons beyond their control, have an average per capita income below the poverty line established by the government of the Nizhny Novgorod Region. The decision on concluding a social contract is made by a commission. Priority is given to citizens who already have successful experience running their own business. Also, priority when granting support is given to large families and families of SVO participants.

      Starting from 2025, the social contract as a mechanism of financial support for citizens has been included in the national project "Family," implemented by order of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

      The new national project is a successor to the previously active national projects "Demography" and "Culture." It involves measures to support the comprehensive development of families: expanding support tools, creating conditions for active longevity of the older generation, and ensuring quality and accessible medical care.