Buruaga extiende ‘cheque de 100 euros por hijo’ a municipios menores de 5.000 habitantes
The President of Cantabria, María José Sáenz de Buruaga, has announced that the Government will extend the 100 euro check per child under 3 years old to municipalities of up to 5,000 inhabitants — previously limited to those with less than 2,000 — benefiting 80 out of the 102 municipalities in the region.
With this measure, the Government aims to facilitate the reconciliation of family and work life, especially for women in rural areas, nearly tripling the current number of beneficiaries.
This was revealed on Friday during the gala organized by the Government at the Palacio de Festivales for International Women’s Day, celebrated on Saturday, March 8th, where three women’s associations were honored for their 25 years of service.
Buruaga emphasized that the extension of the baby check initiative stems from «real equality, not rhetoric,» a part of the decisions the Government has made in the past 20 months of its term, advancing in benefits, reconciliation, employment, and results, with more women than ever contributing to Social Security and the lowest number of women unemployed in the last 17 years.
In a packed Argenta room, Buruaga advocated for an equality «without divisions or exclusions» because «true feminism is inclusion and true equality, a challenge and a collective effort of society as a whole. Men and women together. Without exclusion,» she stated.
She further stated that her Government team works «for everyone,» while also asserting her identity as a woman leading an administration that makes decisions with the reality of women in mind, making equality a cross-cutting objective.
She highlighted measures implemented by her Administration to benefit women, such as the opening of two comprehensive specialized care centers for women victims of gender violence, tax reductions, expanded tax deductions for expenses like nurseries, and increased resources for reconciliation like the «progress» of the early childhood education network from 0 to 3 years old, dining halls, or school transportation, primarily in rural areas.
«No woman should be forced to choose between personal and professional development; between being a mother or a working woman,» stated Buruaga, also recalling the launch of the Autonomous Employment Plan benefiting women with double zero fees.
Additionally, the Head of Government mentioned support for women’s health with the extension of the age range for assisted reproduction treatment from 40 to 45 years, also covering the second child.
Furthermore, the President referred to the «extraordinary progress» in Cantabria with women at the helm of the regional government, the regional Parliament, the Government Delegation, the Mayorship of Santander, the University of Cantabria, the National Police Superior Headquarters, Social Security, and Banco Santander, which she believes is «indicative of an unstoppable change with no turning back» and «a profound social transformation.»
RECOGNITION OF THREE ASSOCIATIONS
At the gala, recognition was given to the women’s associations Asociación Picos Ozalba, Mujeres del Murandon, and AMUCAN for «their exemplary work, commitment to the fight and defense of women’s rights, and for being a reference in the feminist movement in Cantabria.»
They all received a pictorial work by Noelia Cuevas Orallo: a canvas with ten figures symbolizing the unity of as many women of today.
Buruaga presented this recognition to María José Rodríguez Seco, president of Murandon; Marta Martínez Grande, president of Picos de Hozalba, and Antonia Gimón Revuelta of AMUCCAN, highlighting their contribution to making women «more visible and empowered.»
The gala concluded with a musical tribute to Rocío Jurado, known for her musical legacy but also as a «reference» in the feminist movement in Spain.
