No one should go hungry or have a hard time during Tet.

Talking to the press about taking care of Tet for people with meritorious services, the poor, and the disadvantaged in society, Deputy Minister of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs Nguyen Trong Dam said that no one will go hungry or have a meal during the 2017 Lunar New Year.

Distributing rice to support people in Thuan Nam district, Ninh Thuan. (Photo: Cong Thu/VNA)

The Deputy Minister stated that in 2016, natural disasters were complicated, with prolonged rains and floods, negatively affecting agricultural production and people's lives, especially in the Central and Central Highlands regions.

Since November 2016, the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs has issued an official dispatch directing localities to review and summarize households at risk of hunger; proactively use local budgets to promptly support those who are hungry during the Lunar New Year and the early 2017 crop year.

To date, 40 provinces have submitted reports approving plans to prepare for Tet for people with meritorious services, the poor and vulnerable groups. With the spirit of striving to be better each year than the previous year, Party committees and authorities at all levels have made great efforts, actively and proactively implemented...

Since the beginning of 2016, 67,000 tons of rice have been exported to support local people during the Lunar New Year, the lean season, drought, saltwater intrusion, and environmental incidents in the Central region...

The good news is that although the amount of rice distributed is double or triple that of previous years, the distribution by localities is being implemented well, thanks to lessons learned from previous years, the Deputy Minister commented.

Regarding localities requesting rice support for Tet holiday, Deputy Minister Nguyen Trong Dam informed: Currently, 15 provinces have sent official dispatches requesting support with a total amount of rice needed being more than 17 thousand tons. The Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs has directed localities to set a target of January 22 (ie December 25) as the final deadline for rice support for Tet holiday 2017.

Answering the question about whether many localities in 2016 achieved a fairly high GDP growth rate but still asked for rice support during Tet, was it due to a mentality of dependence and waiting, Deputy Minister Nguyen Trong Dam said that high GDP growth and asking for rice support are two different things, because many localities, despite having a high growth rate, still have a group of people in difficulty and need support during Tet.

All localities that have submitted official dispatches requesting rice support have been submitted to the Prime Minister for approval by the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs. The responsibility of the localities is to assess and determine the needs and hunger situation; ensure social security for the people with the spirit of not letting any person go hungry or have a meal during Tet.

The Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs also recommends that localities carry out famine relief with a local spirit, and if it exceeds their capacity, they will submit it to the Central Government for support. Typically, some localities, despite facing natural disasters and difficulties, did not send official dispatches requesting rice subsidies, such as: Son La, Quang Nam...

In addition to rice support for the poor, Deputy Minister Nguyen Trong Dam affirmed that other policy beneficiaries are also guaranteed social security during Tet. Accordingly, authorized by the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs has submitted to the President for consideration to give gifts to people with meritorious services. The gifts are divided into two levels: 400,000 VND and 200,000 VND with a total estimated cost of 431 billion VND.

Provinces and cities also visited and presented gifts to policy beneficiaries using local budgets; continued to mobilize organizations, individuals and businesses to respond to the volunteer movement, care for the poor, and "Repay gratitude."

For workers, the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor, provinces and cities, through the Labor Federation, will mobilize businesses to have policies on Tet bonuses, gifts, and organize transportation for workers to return home for Tet with the spirit of ensuring the best travel for workers, said Deputy Minister Nguyen Trong Dam.

Deputy Minister Nguyen Trong Dam emphasized that ensuring social security and taking care of people's lives, especially those with meritorious services, the poor, and vulnerable groups during the Lunar New Year is the responsibility of Party committees, authorities, and leaders at all levels.

If people go hungry and do not have Tet, the Party committees, authorities and leaders of that locality will be assessed as not fulfilling their duties and appropriate measures will be taken./.

According to Vietnamplus