Russia’s Digital Services Expand to Support Yamal’s Nomadic Reindeer Herders
The federal Gosuslugi portal has launched a dedicated section for Yamal’s Indigenous nomadic peoples, giving them easier online access to government benefits and education programs.
The new resource was created on the national digital services platform by the Department of Information Technology and Communications of the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug. For the first time, all regional support measures for Indigenous northerners are available in one place.
Through Gosuslugi, Yamal’s nomadic herders can now quickly find information and apply for benefits such as child allowances, the region’s unique “Chum Capital” housing support measure, and education certificates. The service not only accepts online applications but also guides users through the required documents and the agencies to contact.
According to Maria Kalinina, head of e-government at the Yamal IT Department, more than 70% of applications from Indigenous residents are already submitted digitally.
Officials emphasize that the project is a major step toward digital inclusion and equal access to state services. It demonstrates that modern technologies can—and should—be adapted to the needs of every citizen, regardless of their location or lifestyle.
