The St. Petersburg parliament has approved a bill to provide 100,000 rubles to pregnant students. The initiative, proposed in Smolny, aims to financially support female students during their pregnancy.

According to officials, the payment is intended to improve the situation for pregnant students. The Healthcare Committee reports that 266 full-time female students are currently registered as pregnant in St. Petersburg.

During the bill’s consideration, deputies from the Communist Party, “A Just Russia,” and “Yabloko” suggested removing support for schoolgirls. Alexey Zinchuk cited consultations with the city’s chief pediatrician, who indicated that pregnancies before the age of 16 significantly increase the risk of premature birth. Zinchuk argued against encouraging early pregnancies. Olga Shtannikova proposed a separate program for teenage pregnancies instead of including them in the 100,000 ruble payment.

Konstantin Sukhenko, the Governor’s representative, opposed these amendments, stating that the law does not preclude other forms of support. Ultimately, the amendments were rejected, and the bill was adopted in its second reading.

Sukhenko noted that similar payment programs are already in place in numerous regions across the country.