ASTANA – The national Samruk Kazyna Sovereign Wealth Fund has allocated about 600 million tenge (US$3.3 million) to implement an action plan and campaign to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the victory in World War II. The programme includes creation of a unified information online platform containing the history of the war, contribution of the Kazakh people to the victory, description of the feats of heroes and information about Kazakh veterans.
Life button cellphones
Using Internet platform, plans are being considered to hold a charity campaign to raise funds for veterans, whose goals and needs will be identified and agreed with the Organisation of Veterans of Kazakhstan. Everyone willing to help will be able to make a contribution by sending a text message to a short number or using a mobile version of the website. Samruk Kazyna will also make a significant financial contribution to the needs of veterans.
The campaign also includes the life line social programme, the essence of which consists of acquiring panic buttons for veterans living in all regions of Kazakhstan and connecting them to an emergency system. As of Jan. 1, 5,083 participants in the Great Patriotic War, as the war that raged for more years from 1941-45 is known colloquially in the countries of the former Soviet Union, lived in the country. Each veteran will be provided with a mobile device that will assist in an emergency. This project was created to ensure that none of the veterans will be left without care and attention.
Omir Zholy, the city’s public foundation, started the transfer of the so-called life buttons Jan. 29 to the Central Council of the Organisation of Veterans of Kazakhstan. They will then be sent to the City Councils of Veterans. The 229 World War II veterans living in the capital are expected to get their mobile devices within the next two weeks.
According to Ernar Nurbekov, the executive director of the Omir Zholy fund, the life lines will be introduced next in Karaganda city and the Karaganda region. In this area, 376 veterans will be covered by the system. The connection of all veterans will be completed by April 30.
The life button is a device that is easy to use. It looks like a mobile phone with an SOS button on the back. When pressed, the veteran can send a signal to the care centre. Within three seconds the operator sees an individual subscriber card with all the individual’s disease symptoms. The device is equipped with a speaker and microphone, allowing the operator to communicate with the caller and ask clarifying questions. If a person is incapacitated and cannot speak, the operator will call for first aid on default, then inform all relatives or close friends who can also provide the necessary assistance to the veteran.
The work on the life button will be carried out in conjunction with the veterans’ organisation, Eurasian Media Forum international fund, Omir Zholy public fund, Beeline telecom operator and other partner organisations.
“In carrying out this social project, attention should be paid to the fact that the assistance will be provided to veterans comprehensively and systematically. We will try to satisfy all the needs of veterans,” said Director General of the Eurasian Media Forum Ruslan Zhemkov.
Other events will be organised, including a May 9 national campaign minute of silence. The observance will be held throughout the country and the online platform will inform all visitors when it begins. Individuals will also be notified of the production and display of “Our War,” a serial movie on the Eurasia First TV channel, a nationwide photo contest and essay competitions among students.
Kazakhstan made a huge contribution to the victory, as more than 1,200,000 soldiers were sent from the Kazakh SSR, a constituent part of the then Soviet Union, to the front. More than 600,000 soldiers from Kazakhstan did not return from the battlefield.
By the decision of the heads of state of the Commonwealth of Independent States, 2015 was declared the year of veterans of the Great Patriotic War.
