Bursa Metropolitan Municipality, which takes determined steps to implement projects that will carry Bursa to a healthy future, on the other hand, continues to implement the best examples of social municipality in Turkey and Bursa. Providing a wide range of social services, from soup kitchens to shelters, home care for the sick and elderly, circumcision festivals, and the Kart16 application that provides economic support to those in need, the Metropolitan Municipality will continue to be a breath of fresh air for those in need and a lifeline for tradesmen in 2024. Ready-made clothing retailers, shoemakers and stationers were also added to the project that was initiated with neighborhood grocery stores in order to keep small tradesmen affected by the pandemic afloat in previous years. The project, in which students in need were later included, continues to grow like a snowball in 2024.
50 MILLION TL SUPPORT TO 75 THOUSAND HOUSEHOLDS IN RAMADAN
Bursa Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Alinur Aktaş said that they continue to bring new services to Bursa with their people-centered service approach. Stating that they are guided by the motto 'Keep people alive so that the state lives', Mayor Aktaş stated that the duties and responsibilities of local governments have increased considerably and that they are now trying to extend routine municipal services to all areas with an approach that prioritizes tradesmen and the economy. Stating that they do not have a classical understanding of leaving parcels or making periods, Mayor Aktaş said, “We are considering different segments in terms of social support. That's why we launched the Kart16 application. Currently, we have around 16 thousand citizens actually using Kart10. Every month, they have the opportunity to do their shopping in a civilized manner, except for monopoly products. In addition, 85 thousand people benefited from the Ramadan social support check, 89 thousand people from the sacrificial clothing support check, and 127 thousand people from the education social support check. We supported the electricity, internet and water bills of approximately 281 thousand citizens. Last year, we supported the natural gas bills of 7 thousand citizens. 741 thousand people benefited from our soup kitchen service. Our circumcision feasts continue. We provide scholarships to 10 students from vocational high schools and universities through Burskoop. This year, we, as Bursa Metropolitan Municipality, are covering the YKS and E-KPSS fees. Our citizens over the age of 65 benefit from all transportation free of charge. Ramadan social support check applications, which started on January 24, 2024 and whose application deadline is February 25, 2024, have also ended. Applications received for 1 month will be examined within the specified conditions, thanks to artificial intelligence-supported programs and according to the data of our Ministry of Internal Affairs. 50 thousand eligible households will benefit from this. Spending codes will be sent to the phones of the relevant people. Social support checks will be delivered to our citizens who do not use smartphones. By spending these codes, which will be valid in nearly 1000 grocery stores, our small tradesmen will achieve a total turnover of 75 million TL. "This exemplary and pioneering project will support our citizens and be a lifeline for our tradesmen," he said.
TOTAL 50 MILLION TL SUPPORT TO 75 THOUSAND PENSIONERS
Giving the good news of another study that will be valid for ready-made clothing and shoemakers before Eid al-Adha in 2024, Mayor Aktaş said, “We will deliver 1.500 thousand support checks worth 75 TL, worth 50 million TL in total, to our citizens. Also in September, we will distribute 1.500 thousand education support checks of 75 TL, worth 50 million TL in total, to our citizens, which will be valid for our stationer tradesmen. This is the first time I am declaring an issue. Our President declared this year as his 'retirement year'. In order to support our retired citizens, we will deliver holiday support checks of 50 TL to 1.500 thousand retirees. We will provide a total of 50 million TL support to 75 thousand retirees. I express that a total of 2024 million TL of support and contribution will be given to our people in 500, provided that it is used by our tradesmen registered to the chambers of tradesmen. May God not destroy our unity and solidarity. I would like to thank all our tradesmen who became the grocery uncle, brother and sister of the neighborhood with their sweat and effort. I wish you good luck. "May our protocol be beneficial," he said.
“We will continue to stand by our retirees”
Minister of Labor and Social Security Vedat Işıkhan said that he had the pleasure of witnessing many of the works of Bursa Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Alinur Aktaş. Wishing that the protocol would be auspicious for the people of Bursa, Minister Işıkhan stated that they have never abandoned the social state understanding, which is one of the cornerstones of the ancient state tradition. Stating that Bursa is also the city of Anatolian cultural codes, appreciation and tolerance, Işıkhan said, “We saw in Bursa that our state tradition is kept alive and kept alive down to the smallest detail. We also try to be there for our people. I would like to thank Bursa Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Alinur Aktaş for his work, especially for retirees. As an institution, we continue to work and fight for our retirees. We made a one-time bonus allowance of 5 thousand TL to all our retirees. We determined the increase rate in pensions as 49,25 percent for all our retirees. We declared 2024 as the 'Year of Retirees'. We will continue to support our retirees. As the Ministry, we fully support the work announced by Bursa Metropolitan Municipality for our retirees. I congratulate all institutions, especially our President Alinur Aktaş, who contributed to the protocol. "Good luck," he said.
BESOB President Fahrettin Bilgit stated that tradesmen are not simply merchants and craftsmen, but are one of the main pillars of society's values. Stating that they accept that time, trade and shopping habits have changed, Bilgit said that they are trying to keep up with this change; He stated that it is valuable to provide support to citizens through tradesmen and thanked Bursa Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Alinur Aktaş for his contributions.
Bursa Grocery Chamber President Muhammet Nuri Örs thanked Bursa Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Alinur Aktaş for the support he gave to the tradesmen and expressed his belief that the tradesmen's organization, which attaches importance to keeping the covenant, will give the necessary support to Alinur Aktaş in the elections.
After the speeches, Mayor Alinur Aktaş presented a painting to Minister Vedat Işıkhan in memory of the day. Then, a protocol was signed between Bursa Metropolitan Municipality, BESOB, Bursa Chamber of Grocers, Bursa Ready-Made Clothing Chamber, Bursa Shoemakers Chamber and Bursa Stationers Chamber.
