Rakovski

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Rakovski Municipality is located in the central part of Southern Bulgaria, in the eastern part of Plovdiv District. It comprises of  the main town Rakovski and 6 villages: Belozem, Stryama, Chalakovi, Shishmantsi, Bolyarovo and Momino selo.

According to official data, the Roma population makes up 6.36 % of the total population in the municipality. They live in separate neighborhoods and are concentrated in six areas in the town of Rakovski as well as the villages of Chalakovi, Stryama, Momino selo and Shishmantsi.

Some of the main issues Roma are faced with are:  

• - Illegal housing;
• - Poor infrastructure;
• - Important migration to western European countries;
• - Early marriages;
• - Lack of health insurance for an important amount of the population.