So that every family can have Tet, everyone can be warm when Tet comes and Spring comes.

Reporter: Dear comrade! In addition to the policies and decisions on socio-economic development, our Party and State always pay attention to social security work. How has this work been carried out in Nghe An, dear comrade?

Comrade Nguyen Duc Thanh:Along with leadership and direction of socio-economic development, in recent times, Party committees and authorities at all levels in the province have paid attention to social security work with the spirit of "leaving no one behind".

A prominent social security activity is the Program to mobilize and support the construction and repair of houses for the poor and those with housing difficulties (Program 1838). After nearly 2 years of implementation, the whole province has mobilized and supported the construction and repair of 11,787 houses; of which 9,680 houses were newly built and 2,107 houses were repaired.

In particular, the program "Tet for the poor" has become a traditional cultural feature of Nghe An for over 10 years, with resources mobilized to care for the poor increasing every year. Particularly for the program "Tet for the poor Spring Giap Thin 2024", the whole province has mobilized money and goods with a total value of nearly 145 billion VND. From the mobilized resources, all levels and sectors have allocated and supported Tet gifts for more than 46,686 poor households, reaching 100%; 28,774 near-poor households, reaching 57.4%; 57,882 policy households, meritorious people and workers and laborers in difficult circumstances.

In addition, the Fund for the Poor has annually mobilized many agencies, organizations, individuals, and philanthropists to actively contribute and support. Charitable activities and social security for disadvantaged areas and poor people have been implemented by many organizations and individuals, such as building bridges; supporting the construction of schools and school sites; livelihood models, essential living items, supporting learning, medical examination and treatment, etc. These are meaningful activities, noble gestures, deeply demonstrating the spirit of solidarity, "mutual love and affection" of people from all walks of life inside and outside the province towards the poor and people in difficult circumstances in Nghe An province.

Not only supporting the needy people in the province, Nghe An people also have a spirit of solidarity, mutual assistance, and support for people in need throughout the country. Evidence is the storm No. 3 in 2024, when the northern provinces suffered heavy damage, the solidarity of Nghe An people arose and promoted to join hands to support the people of the northern provinces with many specific and practical activities and jobs with a total value of more than 146 billion VND (including cash and converted goods), the locality with the 3rd highest fundraising budget in the country, after Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi.

Reporter: As you shared, taking care of the poor during Tet has become a traditional cultural feature of Nghe An. How will this activity continue to be implemented in the Lunar New Year 2025, comrade?

Comrade Nguyen Duc Thanh:Tet is the time when everyone wants to gather, be warm and full, not only in material but also in spirit. However, there are still families in difficult circumstances, not having enough conditions to fully celebrate Tet. Understanding that situation, with the desire to bring "Tet" to all families, not only in material but also in affection, care, sharing of the community, creating motivation for the disadvantaged, the disadvantaged in society to rise up in life. Nghe An has organized and maintained the meaningful "Tet for the poor" program for over 10 years.

This year, instead of organizing the program "Tet for the poor", the province organized the program "Nghia dong Lam - Xuan At Ty 2025" to create a series of practical activities for the poor and disadvantaged areas in the province, not just supporting "Tet" with gifts of cash, food, candy... for the poor.

At the same time, through the program, we affirm, arouse and promote the good traditional qualities of the people of Nghe An who value love, loyalty, "mutual love", and help each other when facing difficulties and hardships with boundless love like the Lam River flowing forever.

In addition, all levels, sectors and localities in the province also implemented the "Early Spring" program to call for and mobilize social resources, associated with organizing Tet gift giving and other support activities for the poor and people in especially difficult circumstances in the localities.

At the provincial level, this year's "Early Spring in the Highlands" program was assigned to the Provincial Fatherland Front Committee to preside over and coordinate with a number of provincial departments and branches and Ky Son district to organize in Bac Ly commune on January 9, 2025 (ie December 10, the year of the Dragon) with many practical activities. In addition to providing Tet gifts with the goal of "covering" 100% of poor households in Ky Son district, it also supports the livelihood model of "breeding cows", supports housing for the poor; at the same time, organizes cultural activities, folk games of throwing con, pushing sticks, tug of war, organizing banh chung cooking competitions...; creating an atmosphere of welcoming Tet, enjoying Spring with solidarity and happiness in the ethnic communities in Ky Son district.

Currently, some units such as the Provincial Women's Union have proactively organized the program "Warm Border Tet - Spring At Ty 2025" in the two districts of Quy Chau and Que Phong on December 30 and 31, 2024 with many activities such as giving Tet gifts, warm blankets, supporting the livelihood model of "breeding cows" for members and poor women; giving gifts to students in especially difficult circumstances. Some localities in the delta, in addition to proactively calling for and connecting resources to "cover" and support all poor households in the area, have also actively organized activities to give gifts and support poor households in mountainous districts and ethnic minority areas in the province.

The target group for support during this Tet holiday is poor households, focusing on especially disadvantaged households such as the elderly living alone without support, orphans, households with sick people, serious and chronic diseases, etc. This year, the activities of visiting, encouraging, and giving gifts to the poor receiving treatment at medical facilities during Tet continue to be implemented by the Provincial Fatherland Front Committee. The Provincial Fatherland Front has also called on and connected philanthropists and volunteer groups to organize "Solidarity Tet Meals" for patients receiving treatment during Tet at a number of hospitals, so that everyone and every family can have Tet.

Reporter: Do you have any message for all levels, sectors, business community, philanthropists and people of all walks of life, so that every family can have Tet and everyone can feel warm when Tet comes and Spring comes?

Comrade Nguyen Duc Thanh:Nghe An is the province with the largest natural area in the country and the fourth largest population in the country. Notably, 11/20 district-level units are in mountainous areas, with ethnic minorities; of which 5 high mountainous districts Ky Son, Que Phong, Tuong Duong, Quy Chau, Con Cuong still face many difficulties and have a high poverty rate.

Nghe An is also a locality that is often affected by natural disasters, storms and floods and in many situations, many households "fall" into difficulty and poverty. Therefore, despite many efforts for social security work, currently, in the province there are still more than 36,700 poor households, of which nearly 5,700 poor households and households in especially difficult circumstances are living in makeshift houses; there are 47,700 near-poor households and many other difficult circumstances that are in dire need of the support of the whole society, especially during the traditional New Year of the nation - Spring At Ty 2025.

Taking care of the people, especially the poor and those in particularly difficult circumstances, in addition to the responsibility of the cadres, civil servants and public employees in the political system, requires the joint efforts and consensus of the business community, entrepreneurs, philanthropists and all classes of people. It can be said that giving is forever, with affection and responsibility for the community, I hope that businesses, entrepreneurs, philanthropists, organizations and individuals inside and outside the province will continue to pay more attention to participating in contributing and supporting the program launched by Nghe An province. The kind and benevolent hearts of the philanthropists are an important driving force to help poor families; to continue to "light up" the traditional cultural qualities of the people of Nghe An who value love, loyalty, "mutual love"; at the same time, it is the foundation for building a united and loving society, contributing to the effective implementation of the poverty reduction goal in the province.

Reporter:Thank you for this conversation, comrade!