Nizhny Novgorod region summed up the results of the first year of the "Osnova" program.

      On July 1, 2026, 10:27 Society The Nizhny Novgorod region has become a leader in Russia in terms of the growth of the total fertility rate. This result was achieved by the region after a year of implementing a new demographic policy initiated by Governor Gleb Nikitin, as analyzed by the website pravda-nn.ru. The program started in July 2025. At the same time, the Institute of Demographic Development was established, whose specialists studied the reasons why families postpone having children. Among the main factors were financial difficulties, lack of housing, absence of help with children, and uncertainty about the future. Based on this data, a comprehensive support system was built in the region. It combined the "Foundation" program, implemented within the framework of the national project "Family," additional regional payments, digital services, and measures from the federal "demographic menu"—services of social nannies, rental of children's equipment, and other assistance tools.

      At the end of 2024, a new profession—parent—was officially established in the region, and the period from 2025 to 2030 was declared the Five-Year Family Plan.

      "As a father, I understand well: the birth of a child is always associated with confidence in the future. When a family has points of support from the state and society, the step to expand the family becomes natural and easy. Therefore, in the Nizhny Novgorod region, we are building a balanced support system for families. Essentially, we are creating conditions for parents to focus on what matters most: raising children and strengthening family ties. The region does not follow foreign templates but designs its own path based on the needs of its residents," noted Governor Gleb Nikitin.

      The key tool became the parental basic income "Foundation." Taking into account the federal maternity capital, its amount is at least 1 million rubles for each born or adopted child. There are no analogs of such a measure in other regions. Moreover, the payment does not depend on the family's income and is not taken into account when assigning a single benefit. Funds can be received in the format of a monthly "parent's salary" for three years, a one-time targeted amount, or a combination of both options:

      For the first child, 10,000 rubles per month for three years is provided.

      For the second child—22,222 rubles monthly or part of the amount at once and the remaining part in the form of payments.

      For the third child—30,000 rubles per month or a combination of one-time and monthly support.

      For the fourth and subsequent children—30,000 rubles monthly or 1 million rubles at once.

      Maxim and Tatyana Belov from Krasnaya Sloboda in the Bor district decided to have a second child after the launch of regional support. They applied for the parental basic income with monthly payments for three years and plan to use the funds for a mortgage or to buy a car. Evgenia and Vladislav Podnozovy from Balakhna are raising three sons—Ignat, Matvey, and Miron. The family is saving the payments to expand their housing and arrange separate rooms for the children. In the future, the couple dreams of having a daughter. As of June 15, 2026, 16,849 families have received payments. A separate measure became the electronic certificate "Gift for the Newborn" with a nominal value of 20,000 rubles. It can be used on the marketplace to purchase children's goods. The list includes more than 600 items from 19 Nizhny Novgorod manufacturers. Alyona Klinova from Dzerzhinsk, a mother of four children, purchased necessary items for her youngest son Lev and plans to move to a three-room apartment. From July 2025 to June 15, 2026, the certificate was issued to 17,479 families. In addition to financial measures, the region is developing consultation and psychological support. For pregnant women, families in difficult life situations, and couples experiencing crises, the portal "Sokhrani.rf" operates, along with a hotline for scheduling appointments with psychologists and an anonymous chatbot. In 2025, the number of abortions in the region decreased by 31% compared to the previous year. Only in February 2026, 28.46% of women refused to terminate their pregnancies after consulting with specialists. For families facing infertility, free reproductive screening and preparation for the IVF program are conducted. The number of quotas has been increased to 3,198—of which 2,288 are funded from the federal budget and 910 from the regional budget. Currently, there are no waiting lists for the procedure in the region. Additionally, digital services have been implemented. The "Social Support Measures Calculator" helps determine available benefits—212 measures are accounted for in the system, including federal, regional, and municipal. A mobile application "Wow, Parents!" for expectant mothers and a service "Family Navigator" with a map of places for recreation with children are also in operation. In August 2025, a law on the status of "responsible business" was adopted. Companies that provide employees with payments upon the birth of a child, flexible or remote work formats, paid time off, and preferential medical care can obtain this status. It was previously reported that more than a third of private clinics in the Nizhny Novgorod region refused to perform abortions. NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" has channels on Telegram and MAX. Subscribe to stay updated on major events, exclusive materials, and operational information. Copyright © 1999—2025 NIA "Nizhny Novgorod." When reprinting, a hyperlink to NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" is mandatory. This resource may contain materials 18+.