Ilia Regional Leader Offers €1,000 Personal Incentive to Women Staying in Oleni Village

By Greek City Times Newsroom

In a bold personal initiative aimed at combating rural depopulation and supporting family life in western Greece, Giorgos Dimitropoulos—the regional government official in Ilia—has pledged €1,000 from his own salary to every woman in the village of Oleni who chooses to stay permanently or raise her children there.

The announcement came during the traditional New Year’s cake-cutting ceremony organized by the Cultural Folklore Association of Oleni, where Dimitropoulos highlighted the social and developmental goals behind the gesture. He emphasized that the measure seeks to bolster local communities, encourage motherhood, and retain young families in rural areas facing ongoing population decline—a common challenge across many Greek villages.

The offer applies specifically to women from Oleni who commit to permanent residency or to those deciding to bring up their families in the village. While modest in scale, the initiative was warmly received by attendees, who praised it as a concrete demonstration of local leadership, social responsibility, and solidarity in sustaining village life amid broader demographic pressures.

This move aligns with wider national efforts in Greece to address low birth rates and rural exodus, including government incentives for families and tax breaks in depopulated areas. Dimitropoulos' personal contribution stands out as a grassroots example of direct support from a public figure to encourage population stability in small communities.

Oleni, a traditional village in the Ilia region of the Peloponnese, benefits from its cultural heritage and proximity to natural attractions, yet—like many rural spots—grapples with youth migration to urban centers. Initiatives like this could inspire similar local actions elsewhere in Greece to preserve community vitality.

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