СОЦИАЛЬНЫЕ ПРОБЛЕМЫ МАЛЫХ ГОРОДОВ В ЗЕРКАЛЕ ИНДЕКСА КАЧЕСТВА ГОРОДСКОЙ СРЕДЫ

Abstract

The article presents some research results of 16 small towns in Russia: Likhoslavl, Kimry, Sokol, Krasavino, Aksai, Millerovo, Izobilny, Novoaleksandrovsk, Balakhna, Zavolzhye, Sredneuralsk, Irbit, Shelekhov, Winter, Bolshoy Kamen and Spassk-Dalny. The problems of small towns with different historical genesis, social and industrial infrastructure, differing in area, population, and development of the urban environment are shown. Special attention is paid to the problems of the socio-cultural sphere, with access to political and managerial practices. Difficulties of access to medicine, education, culture against the background of outdated infrastructure and organization of the urban environment are noted. In the field of education, there is a shortage of places in kindergartens and schools, the deterioration of old buildings, which in some places is 50% or more, and the need for major repairs of old schools and the opening of new ones, outdated material base requiring renovation, a shortage of teaching staff, the absence of specialized training institutions, poor Internet quality. In small towns, organizations of additional education for children — cultural, sports and leisure — are poorly represented. The indicators of the urban environment quality index of these small cities for 2018-2021 and the winners of the competition for the best projects of a comfortable urban environment are analyzed. The compliance with the realities of the name of the project "All-Russian competition of the best projects for creating a comfortable urban environment in small towns and historical settlements", which is expressed in the point improvement of individual urban areas of small towns, is questioned.