The Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin implements its tasks for 2013.
(Baonghean.vn) - This morning, January 4th, the Nghe An Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin held a meeting to summarize the Association's work, its fundraising and outreach efforts to help victims in 2012, and to plan tasks for 2013.
Nghe An currently has nearly 30,000 people exposed to chemical toxins, of which 16,577 have received benefits under Decree 54/CP. To date, 100% of districts, cities, and towns, and 320 out of 481 communes and wards have associations with 12,122 members and volunteers. During the year, the Provincial Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin directly allocated support funds to local associations, assisting victims with house repairs, providing production capital, awarding scholarships to victims' children, and providing hardship allowances to families facing illness or misfortune, totaling nearly 3 billion VND.
Delegates attending the Conference
Despite the achievements, the Association of Victims of Agent Orange still faces many difficulties in its operations, such as: Association staff not receiving remuneration as stipulated in Decision 30/2011 of the Prime Minister; insufficient operating funds; the project to build a center for nurturing, creating jobs, and rehabilitating the children of victims has not been resolved; the operational base of the association at all levels is not stable; many war veterans exposed to chemical toxins have not yet received benefits due to bureaucratic obstacles, while most of these individuals are elderly, frail, and facing economic hardship.
In 2013, the Provincial Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin aimed to have 100% of communes and wards establish associations by the second quarter. They also aimed to raise funds to build 15 houses, each costing 50 million VND; provide production and livestock support to 20 to 30 victims, each receiving 8 to 10 million VND; and award 20 scholarships to children of victims, each worth 3 million VND.
Comrade Ho Mau Thanh, Vice Chairman of the Provincial Fatherland Front Committee, presented certificates of commendation to collectives and individuals with outstanding achievements.
Comrade Dinh Xuan Tu, Chairman of the Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin in the province, presented certificates of commendation from the Association to collectives and individuals who achieved outstanding results in 2012.
On this occasion, the Provincial Fatherland Front Committee awarded certificates of merit to 6 collectives and 7 individuals, and the Association of Victims of Agent Orange awarded certificates of merit to 33 collectives and 37 individuals for their outstanding achievements in caring for and assisting victims of Agent Orange.
Tran Hai
