MOSCOW, June 5 (RAPSI) – The State Duma will review a bill increasing financing for socially-oriented NGOs by more than 1.6 times, the press-service of the lower house of parliament has stated.

The bill’s first reading is set for June 7.

Earlier, Chairman of the State Duma Committee on development of civil society, social and religious organizations Sergey Gavrilov said that, according to the bill, financing will be increased from 1.1 billion ($17.6 million) to 1.8 billion ($28.9) rubles as part of the special subprogram of the “Social support for Russian citizens” initiative.

Subsidies for NGOs involved in the development of civil society are provided from the funds of the Presidential Grants Foundation. Overall, the accumulated value of all grants is more than 8 billion rubles ($128.6 million).