The effectiveness of the clean water and environmental sanitation loan program in Nghe An

Thu Huyen• March 16, 2021 10:16

(Baonghean.vn) - Nghe An is a large, populous locality with a population of over 3.3 million people, of which the rural population accounts for 85.3%. Therefore, the implementation of the National Strategy on Clean Water Supply and Rural Environmental Sanitation (NS&VSMTNT) is extremely important, contributing to improving people's quality of life and effectively building new rural areas.

Imprint from numbers

In the coastal rural areas, many places face the problem ofpollution by waste, unsafe water sources, substandard toilets... affect the lives and health of the community. However, recently, with increasing awareness of environmental issues, the involvement of local authorities, and especially preferential capital from clean water and sanitation loan programs, people's lives have changed a lot.

In Quynh Lap commune (Hoang Mai town), Mr. Nguyen Van Nho - Chairman of the People's Committee of the commune said: Quynh Lap is a coastal commune with a small land area and a large population, clean water is difficult and building hygienic latrines is also very difficult. However, from the loan capital of the Social Policy Bank (SPB), many households are eligible to borrow capital to invest in water works, build toilets... Thanks to that, in 2017 the commune reached the new rural finish line.

Chị Nguyễn Thị Hạnh ở xóm 1, xã Hưng Mỹ, huyện Hưng Nguyên sử dụng công trình nước sạch từ vốn vay NHCSXH. Ảnh: Thu Huyền

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hanh in Hamlet 1, Hung My Commune, Hung Nguyen District uses clean water project from loan capital from the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies. Photo: Thu Huyen

Not only in Hoang Mai, many localities in the province have now hadclean water projects, the toilet meets the standards. Ms. Nguyen Thi Hanh in Hamlet 1, Hung My Commune (Hung Nguyen District) said that before building a clean water tank, her family had to use unsanitary water. In 2016, from a loan from the district's social policy bank, her family borrowed 12 million VND to invest in pipes, build a tank, install a filter, and build a toilet. Thanks to the hygienic water source, we feel secure using it, our health is better, and our house is clean...

According to the statistics, in 2003, before implementing Decision No. 62/2004/QD-TTg (Decision 62) of the Prime Minister, the number of rural households using hygienic water for daily life was still low, only reaching 271,400 households (accounting for 51%), especially the number of households using domestic water that met national standards was only 13%; the rate of households with hygienic toilets and barns was very low, including a number of kindergartens, primary schools and health stations that did not have enough clean water and hygienic toilets.

Graphics: Lam Tung

Implementing Decision No. 62 of the Prime Minister, credit by the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies has become a tool, contributing to the implementation of the National Strategy on clean water supply and rural environmental sanitation, and new rural construction in the area. This is demonstrated through the following indicators: Loan turnover for renovation, repair, and renovation of damaged and degraded works reached 2,353 billion VND, lending to more than 219 thousand households; debt collection turnover reached 1,253 billion VND, with more than 145 thousand households paying off debts.

Phòng-giao-dịch-ngân-hàng-chính-sách-Nghi-lộc-giải-ngân-nguồn-vốn. Ảnh Thu Huyền

Nghi Loc Policy Bank transaction office disburses capital. Photo: Thu Huyen

By October 2020, the program's outstanding debt was VND 1,166 billion, with 74,341 households still in debt. The total number of projects built was 404,210. Credit quality was always stable, and it was one of the branch's high-quality credit programs.

Improve the environment, improve the quality of life

Mr. Nguyen Van Vinh - Deputy Director of the Social Policy Bank, Nghe An branch, said: From the above results, it can be seen that Decision No. 62 of the Prime Minister on credit to implement the National Strategy on granting NS&VSMTNT is a very correct policy of the Government, which is supported by the Party Committee, the government and the people.

This is also an important decision, promoting people's strength according to the motto "State and people work together", contributing to improving the quality of life, protecting people's health and participating in solving problems.environmental pollutionin rural areas. On the other hand, from an economic perspective, this policy has indirectly supported resources for people to develop the economy while ensuring social security and contributing to the construction of new rural areas.

Công trình nước sinh hoạt được đầu tư từ vốn vay NHCS của gia đình anh Bùi Xuân Đại ở thôn 5, Hội Sơn, Anh Sơn. Ảnh: Thu Huyền

The domestic water project was invested with a loan from the NHCS of Mr. Bui Xuan Dai's family in village 5, Hoi Son, Anh Son. Photo: Thu Huyen

Through investment in NS&VSMTNT works, the program has contributed to improving living conditions, ensuring health for people; raising awareness of environmental protection for people in rural areas; making an important contribution to changing some backward customs and habits in the living and livelihood of a part of ethnic minorities in mountainous areas; being an important resource for developing and building new rural areas in the province.

NS&VSMTNT loans have had a positive impact on the living environment of people in Nghe An province, contributing to solving the problem of household waste and environmental pollution, creating a friendly landscape and living environment.

However, the implementation of the program still faces some difficulties. That is, the capital source is still modest compared to the actual needs of the local people; although the loan amount has been adjusted from 4 million VND/project to 10 million VND, an increase of 6 million VND/project compared to when the program started, the loan amount is still too low compared to the current actual cost.

Cán bộ NHCSXH huyện Quỳ Hợp thăm hộ vay vốn hiệu quả trên địa bàn. Ảnh Thu Huyền

Staff of the People's Credit Fund of Quy Hop district visited households with effective loans in the area. Photo: Thu Huyen

Currently, the rate of households using clean water, households with clean toilets... is still low while other local resources for this field are limited. In addition, in addition to rural areas, in reality, a part of poor and near-poor households in urban areas are in great need of preferential loans to build and install clean water and environmental sanitation facilities but there is no mechanism to access them.

In order for the program to continue to make important contributions to the implementation of the National Strategy on NS&VSMTNT in the coming period, it is recommended that the Government continue to implement the NS&VSMTNT loan credit program after the prescribed period expires (December 31, 2020), and at the same time consider linking the NS&VSMTNT program with the national target program on new rural construction for people in rural areas to borrow capital to build works to serve the essential needs of life and build new rural areas.

Research on expanding loans for poor, near-poor and middle-income households in urban areas to contribute to improving living conditions, essential for this group, especially in district towns. At the same time, increase the maximum loan amount to 20 million VND/project to meet the necessary costs of building clean water and sanitation projects to ensure quality.

According to 2020 data: The rate of households using hygienic water reached 85%, an increase of 34% compared to 2003 and the rate of households using clean water according to national standards reached 60%, an increase of 47% compared to 2003; the rate of households with hygienic toilets reached 74%, an increase of 39% compared to 2009; the rate of households raising livestock with environmentally friendly livestock barns reached 60%, an increase of 34% compared to 2009, contributing to the overall results for 246 communes reaching the new rural finish line, accounting for 59.85% of the total number of communes in rural areas, 4 district-level units completed the goal of building new rural areas.