Determination letter to escape poverty in a mountainous district of Nghe An

Mr. Xong Nhia Mai, a Mong ethnic, in Huoi Son village, Tam Hop commune (Tuong Duong district) shared: "My family has 6 members, my wife and I are over 75 years old and weak, my son and daughter-in-law are the main laborers in the house, they have 2 children who are primary school students. Although there are still many difficulties, after the village management board and commune officials held a meeting with the people to talk about the policy of eliminating the mentality of waiting and relying on others, I discussed with my family members to write a petition to escape poverty. We will promote raising buffaloes, chickens, farming, and growing turmeric for commercial purposes to take care of our family life."

50 households in Tuong Duong have just written a petition to escape poverty and near-poverty status. Photo: Nguyen Thanh

The family of Ms. Luong Thi Dan in Xop Kha village, Yen Hoa commune - Tuong Duong with a petition to escape poverty. Photo by Nguyen Thanh

At the end of 2022, Tuong Duong district conducted a review and assessment of poor and near-poor households in 2023. During the review process, more than 50 poor households proactively wrote applications to escape poverty. Most households mentioned the reason for applying to escape poverty was that they no longer wanted to depend on the State's support policies and regimes and give that support to families in more difficult circumstances. Although these households are not necessarily out of trouble, deep in their minds is the desire to be self-reliant and determined to change their lives.

Mr. Nguyen Huu Hue - Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Yen Tinh Commune, Tuong Duong District said: "Previously, through the poor household screening rounds, it showed a reality that many people have labor, have fields and fields for production, conditions are not too difficult but still want to have a place in the list of poor households, near-poor households to receive support from the State. This year, after the Project 07-DA/HU, dated March 8, 2022 of the Standing Committee of the District Party Committee on "Eliminating conservative, waiting, and relying on ideas among party members and the masses", the commune actively and widely propagated, thereby, the thinking of waiting and relying on ideas of many people has gradually been eliminated".

Commune officials count poor households in Tuong Duong, while promoting policies and solutions to escape poverty. Photo: Nguyen Thanh

Escaping poverty is not a matter of one day but a journey. On that journey, people in poor households must be the main subjects. After many processes, people's awareness plays a decisive role. When people have the will to strive and make real efforts, they themselves will make the most of their labor and means of production, along with the support of local authorities, to eliminate poverty for themselves.

Writing an application to leave the poor and near-poor households means that these households are no longer entitled to preferential policies. However, people are happy, considering it a challenge to strive, rise up on their own, and eliminate the mindset of waiting and relying on others that has been deeply rooted in the subconscious of the people in the mountainous areas for so long.

Many production and livestock models have gradually escaped poverty in Tuong Duong. Photo: Nguyen Thanh

Mr. Lu Van May - Standing Deputy Secretary of Tuong Duong District Party Committee said: “Project 07-DA/HU, dated March 8, 2022 of the District Party Committee Executive Committee was born in the face of the reality that a number of cadres, party members and the masses still have conservative, expectant and dependent thoughts. The recent applications for poverty alleviation in the district prove that Project 07-DA/HU is a correct and necessary policy and the Project has initially changed people's awareness, urged action, and at the same time aroused the will to be self-reliant, believe and aspire to overcome poverty of the local people".