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A broom making class of the Blind Association. |
With 2,215 members operating in 204 blind associations in the province, there have been 14 production facilities, creating jobs for 360 workers. The main products are bamboo toothpicks, brooms, rattan products, woven bamboo, incense..., with an average income of 300,000 VND/person/month. Especially the massage and acupressure profession has a higher income than other handicrafts, reaching an average of 600,000 VND to 700,000 VND/person/month. The association has provided 1,153 member families with loans from the national support fund for job creation of 3,508.5 million VND. On average, a household has been able to borrow 3,042,000 VND. Many blind people in remote rural and mountainous areas have found jobs, promoted production to increase income, stabilize and improve their lives, many people have eliminated hunger and reduced poverty. The Association has opened 22 vocational training classes for 503 members in the following occupations: animal husbandry, farming, bamboo toothpicks, brooms, incense... with a total budget of 227 million VND supported by the government. The Association has allocated mobilized funds or provided financial assistance to 1,884 people with a total amount of 310 million VND. It has built and repaired houses for 172 member families, with a total amount of 703.4 million VND, donated 53 savings books worth 14,900,000 VND, and coordinated with local authorities to provide 13,200 kg of rice. During the 5th term, the Provincial Association signed a responsibility contract with the Population and Family Planning Committee to open training classes, provide contraceptives, and establish 13 "Families without a third child" clubs. As a result, no more members have a third child. The association has also focused on propaganda and education: opening 23 Brai classes for 230 people, 10 M2 classes for 100 new members, with a total budget of hundreds of millions of VND; donating 510 radios; printing 1,501 newspapers for members, establishing 14 bookcases at the grassroots level with hundreds of books to serve the reading and listening needs of the blind. Currently, 6 district associations: Cua Lo, Nghi Loc, Thanh Chuong, Nghia Dan, Tan Ky and Quynh Luu have been granted funding by the People's Committee to build spacious, beautiful and fully equipped offices and production workshops, worth nearly 3 billion VND.Thanks to that concern, the blind have been given jobs, improving the material and spiritual life of members. With the achievements, on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of its establishment, the Nghe An Blind Association deserved to be awarded the Third Class Labor Medal by the State, the Provincial People's Committee awarded the emulation flag and many certificates of merit to the collective and individuals.
Nguyen Sy Quy (Anh Son District Blind Association)
