Nearly 3.5 trillion has been mobilized to implement poverty reduction.

Comrade Le Minh Thong - Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee chaired the conference. Attending the conference were representatives of the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Provincial Women's Union, and related departments...

Members of the Organizing Committee for the implementation of the National Target Program for Sustainable Poverty Reduction attended the meeting. Photo: Thanh Nga

Mobilizing nearly 145 billion from socialized sources

The report at the conference presented by the Deputy Director of the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs stated: Over the past time, the coordination of sustainable poverty reduction among sectors, levels, agencies and units has been carried out seriously and effectively. Members of the Organizing Committee for the Implementation of the National Target Program for Sustainable Poverty Reduction; relevant departments and sectors have closely followed the contents, targets and tasks assigned in the Provincial Poverty Reduction Target Program.

As a result, in 2017, the total mobilized capital for the implementation of the Poverty Reduction Program in the whole province reached more than 3,456 trillion VND. Of which, the Central Budget invested according to the target of more than 3,301 trillion VND; the local budget invested in support according to Decision No. 56 of the Provincial People's Committee was 10 billion VND. The socialized source of agencies and enterprises was nearly 145 billion VND.

Disbursement of policy capital for poor and near-poor households in Nghi Long commune - Nghi Loc. Photo: Document

Ms. Ho Thi Chau Loan - Deputy Director of the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs added: From the mobilized capital, many poverty reduction policies and projects have been implemented. That is, supporting loans for 38,437 households with more than 1,278 trillion VND. Supporting medical examination and treatment costs for 18,000 poor and near-poor households with a total cost of nearly 8 billion VND.

The province has supported the construction of 504 houses with a total cost of nearly 16 billion VND; supported vocational training for 4,183 people; and supported 860 people participating in labor export.

In particular, socialization of poverty reduction activities in the past year was focused on. 113 agencies and units received support to help 108 poor communes in 11 districts in the West according to Decision No. 3550/QD-UBND dated August 4, 2017 of the Provincial People's Committee with a total amount of nearly 56 billion VND.

The Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs informed that through the campaign to support the "Fund for the Poor" and the Tet for the Poor program, nearly 89 billion VND has been mobilized to support poor households to build new houses, repair Great Unity houses; support seedlings; medicine; hunger relief and support tuition fees for students from poor households.

In 2017, the poverty rate in the province decreased by 2.01% compared to the beginning of the year, reaching the planned target, contributing to the implementation of the National Target Program on New Rural Development. By the end of the year, the whole province had 7.54% of poor households, with 65,435 households.

The poverty rate is higher than the national average.

However, "The province's poverty rate is still higher than the national average; capital allocation is slow; poverty reduction models are not many, and some places still have a mentality of waiting and relying on others," were the opinions of relevant departments and agencies raised at the meeting.

The Department of Transport brought hundreds of warm clothes to support students in poor commune of Keng Du - Ky Son. Photo: Document

The cause of this situation was pointed out by the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs: The leadership and direction of some Party committees and authorities in implementing the National Target Program on Sustainable Poverty Reduction is not drastic and not thorough. The awareness of a number of officials and people, especially some poor households, still has the mentality of waiting and relying on the State to enjoy support policies. People's lives in the province are greatly affected by natural disasters, storms, floods, and droughts that continuously occur.

Besides, there are many problems in preparing investment dossiers for infrastructure in poor districts and especially difficult communes, which are slower than the prescribed time.

Through analyzing the causes and limitations, the Organizing Committee has proposed 7 main solutions to implement the tasks in 2018. In which, focusing on improving the livelihoods and lives of the poor; ensuring 100% of the poor have access to support services.

Strengthening inspection and supervision work

Comrade Le Minh Thong concluded at the meeting. Photo: Thanh Nga

Concluding the conference, comrade Le Minh Thong affirmed: Poverty reduction and sustainable poverty reduction continue to receive the attention and direction of the Party and State, so members of the Organizing Committee need to further promote communication and information work to raise awareness for all levels of sectors and people about the Party and State's policies and guidelines on hunger eradication and poverty reduction.

At the same time, effectively implement the mechanisms and policies of the Central and the province on loans, support for poor households in education, health care, housing, electricity bills, etc.; strengthen agricultural, forestry and fishery extension work, and provide guidance on how to do business to help the poor escape poverty sustainably.

In particular, it is necessary to strengthen inspection and supervision work from the province to the grassroots level; assign specific tasks to members of the Steering Committees at all levels, in order to put poverty reduction work into order, contributing to the successful implementation of the goal of sustainable poverty reduction.