Changing the approach in allocating resources from poverty reduction policies

(Baonghean) - In order for investment resources for poverty reduction to become a driving force for the poor, a more effective approach is needed. That is, poverty reduction policies need to be integrated, avoiding scattered investment, aiming at indirect support. At the same time, classifying subjects according to poor households to have appropriate impact policies for each group, not equalizing.

Reduce direct support

Poverty reduction in the period 2016 - 2020 is approached using a multidimensional approach. That is, poverty reduction here is not only based on income criteria, but also takes into account the ability to access basic services such as health, education, housing, clean water and sanitation, and information.

Through the monitoring program of the Provincial People's Council Standing Committee, the practices of localities and related sectors have responded to overcome the limitations that have been pointed out, to improve sustainable poverty reduction policies in the province, including more reasonable and effective approaches in both policies and implementation processes. First of all, it is the development and promulgation of policies on the allocation and use of poverty reduction resources, which should be implemented in the direction of reducing direct support programs and increasing indirect investment through the construction of infrastructure and economic models...

The Provincial People's Council's monitoring delegation discussed with officials of Yen Thinh hamlet, Dien Kim commune about implementing policies for poor households. Photo: Thanh Duy

Huu Kiem Commune (Ky Son District) has a total of 9/9 villages implementing the National Target Program for Sustainable Poverty Reduction, of which 9 villages are in particularly difficult situations, the number of poor households accounts for nearly 40%, the number of near-poor households is 15.5% in 2016. From the implementation in the locality, Mr. Nguyen Huu Luong - Chairman of the People's Committee of Huu Kiem Commune said that it is necessary to have policies to support families belonging to both near-poor households and poor households to escape poverty, only then can they avoid falling back into poverty.

Agreeing with the above opinion, Vice Chairman of Ky Son District People's Committee - Ms. Vi Thi Quyen suggested: Raising the support level to implement infrastructure investment items, providing timely capital for implementation; at the same time, stopping the implementation of direct support programs for poor households with low levels because not only are they ineffective but also cause a mentality of waiting and dependence.

Chairman of the People's Committee of Dien Kim beach commune (Dien Chau district) Pham Xuan Bang said that the Government needs to survey, evaluate, and study the reality in localities to have a realistic poverty reduction policy that is both effective for the poor and effective for society in general. "Policies for poor households and the poor should be focused, not spread out. Poor households need to be classified more specifically to have appropriate policies according to poor households: groups of households that have been poor for many years, groups of poor households that have the ability to escape poverty, and groups of households that are temporarily poor due to risks" - Mr. Bang proposed.

Agreeing with this view, Mr. Nguyen Hong Vinh - Member of the Standing Committee, Chairman of the Provincial Party Committee's Inspection Committee; Head of the Economic - Budget Committee, Provincial People's Council said: "For those who are not able to work, do not classify them as poor households but must be classified as social protection. As for those who are able to work but do not have the methods or knowledge to make products or are lazy to work, they should be classified to have effective solutions to reduce poverty."

According to the assessment of the Standing Committee of the Provincial People's Council through supervision in some localities, there are still some Party committees and authorities that have not really paid attention to poverty reduction work and have not built specific plans and roadmaps for poverty reduction work. Therefore, implementing poverty reduction work requires a more proactive and creative spirit of Party committees and authorities at all levels. Regarding this issue, Mr. Hoang Danh Truyen - Vice Chairman of Yen Thanh District People's Committee expressed: Hunger eradication and poverty reduction work must always be under the leadership, direction and inspection of Party committees at all levels, promoting the role of cadres and Party members in poverty reduction activities.

Closely monitor sustainable poverty reduction

It can be said that the Standing Committee of the Provincial People's Council has never carried out a comprehensive and large-scale monitoring program on sustainable poverty reduction in the province like recently. The breath from the practice at the grassroots level is an important material for the elected representative body to have a comprehensive view of the picture of poverty reduction work. The results achieved are very important and meaningful, but the shortcomings and limitations that need to be resolved are also extremely urgent.

Because if we want to develop sustainably, one of the important issues is sustainable poverty reduction. This is also a very important factor that governs many socio-economic development goals of the province until 2020, contributing to the successful implementation of the Resolution of the 18th Provincial Party Congress and Resolution 26 of the Politburo on the direction and tasks of developing Nghe An province until 2020.

With that importance, through discussion, Mr. Hoang Viet Duong - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Council said: "The results of monitoring the implementation of the National Target Program on Sustainable Poverty Reduction for the period 2012 - 2016 will be selected to be included in the agenda of the 4th session of the Provincial People's Council, term XVII, term 2016 - 2021, scheduled to open on July 11, 2017 for discussion. From there, the Provincial People's Council will propose comprehensive solutions, both short-term and long-term".

In particular, the Provincial People's Council will, together with the Provincial People's Committee and relevant sectors, review the overall mechanisms and policies that govern and impact poverty reduction work; which policies are truly effective, which policies are less effective, especially policies for mountainous areas and ethnic minorities; at the same time, examine the practicality in integrating programs and projects related to poverty reduction work; clearly define the roles and responsibilities in leadership and direction of Party committees, authorities, the Fatherland Front and organizations at all levels, especially the grassroots in local socio-economic development.

Fish farming model in cages at Hua Na Hydropower Reservoir (Que Phong). Photo: Thanh Duy

In particular, in building economic models, it is necessary to effectively implement them in conjunction with training and coaching to raise the awareness and thinking of the poor to truly proactively strive to escape poverty. The Standing Committee of the Provincial People's Council sees that: The review, inspection, examination and assessment of poor households must ensure accuracy and objectivity, especially the process of evaluating poor households must be impartial, not leaving out poor households; to do this, it requires a very high responsibility of Party committees and authorities at all levels, especially at the commune, village, hamlet and commune levels.

Along with the above solutions, mechanisms and policies will also be studied to be adjusted appropriately in practice in the direction of prioritizing resources to build models, develop socio-economy, and create demonstration models in each locality for replication. Limit direct support policies that can be "used immediately" such as: rice and in-kind items; increase indirect support policies such as: long-term subsidies for plant and animal varieties.

Along with that, research is needed to have priority policies of crucial nature for each region to create conditions and raise the general level of economic and social life between localities and specific regions. "Only when we can do so can we hope that poverty reduction will be more thorough and sustainable," the Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Council emphasized.

The approach to poverty reduction by solving the problem from the root, which the Standing Committee of the Provincial People's Council has pointed out through supervision and will have discussions and issue official decisions at the meeting next July, will hopefully bring new ways of thinking and doing in practice. At that time, investment resources will become the real driving force for the poor to escape poverty thoroughly and sustainably.

Mai Hoa - Thanh Duy