Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh: Put yourself in the shoes of the poor and the less fortunate

The Prime Minister was moved to say: Let us be there, put ourselves in the shoes of the poor, of those with less fortunate fates, to help with all our hearts, with our emotions, with our understanding, with our respect, care and deep sympathy. Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

Politburo member, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attended and delivered a speech at the program. Also attending were Politburo member, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Tran Thanh Man; Politburo member, Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Dinh Tien Dung; Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee Do Van Chien; Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Head of the Central Mass Mobilization Commission Bui Thi Minh Hoai; Party Central Committee member, Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan; leaders and former leaders of the Party, State, central departments, ministries, branches and provinces and cities; representatives of economic groups, enterprises, organizations, individuals, philanthropists and representatives of people from all walks of life nationwide.

Over the years, the program "The whole country joins hands for the poor" in particular and the work of mobilizing care and assistance for the poor have always received the attention, direction and close coordination of the Government, the Prime Minister, and leaders of relevant ministries and branches.

According to statistics, from 2020 to present, despite the complicated developments of the COVID-19 pandemic, in addition to focusing on epidemic prevention and control, agencies, units, organizations, individuals and businesses have supported the "For the Poor" Fund and implemented social security of over VND 19,313 billion. Of which, the "For the Poor" Fund at 04 levels mobilized over VND 3,865 billion and supported the social security program directly to localities of over VND 15,448 billion.

From mobilized resources, together with the support of the State budget and the community, the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committees at all levels have helped build and repair 102,910 Great Solidarity houses for the poor and people in difficult circumstances; supported over 2.4 million poor and people in difficult circumstances with medical examination and treatment; helped 593,034 students with their studies; supported 663,771 people with production development; and built thousands of civil works.

The program "The whole country joins hands for the poor in 2022" is a practical activity in response to the emulation movement "For the poor - No one is left behind" launched by the Prime Minister and launched the Peak Month "For the poor" in 2022 (October 17, 2022 - November 18, 2022).

At the program, guests talked about stories that demonstrate the self-efforts of the poor; lives and circumstances that need the community's help to rise up in life. Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

At the program, along with the performances, there were films and talks with guests reflecting the results of hunger eradication and poverty reduction in general and "The whole country joins hands for the poor" in particular; stories showing the self-efforts of the poor; lives and circumstances that need the community's help to rise up in life.

Speaking at the program, Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Do Van Chien emphasized that, with the consent of the Standing Committee of the Secretariat and in response to the emulation movement "For the poor - leaving no one behind" launched by the Prime Minister, the Presidium of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front earnestly calls on organizations, individuals, business communities, overseas Vietnamese, foreigners living and working in Vietnam, and philanthropists nationwide to promote the tradition of "loving others as you love yourself", "the whole leaf covers the torn leaf", those with wealth help wealth, those with merit help merit; those with much help much, those with little help little, unite and join forces to help the poor, the disadvantaged and places with many difficulties.

The Vietnam Fatherland Front at all levels is honored to be entrusted by the Party, State and People with the task of presiding over and coordinating with agencies and units to mobilize and receive resources from the whole society; commit to managing and using them for the right purposes, effectively, openly and transparently for the People, organizations and individuals to monitor; fully absorb and seriously implement the Prime Minister's instructions so that the program achieves practical results, meeting the expectations of beneficiaries.

In his speech, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh recalled that during his lifetime, President Ho Chi Minh pointed out that poverty was one of three enemies: hunger, ignorance, and foreign invaders. At the first meeting of the National Construction Planning Research Committee on January 10, 1946, he said: "We have won freedom and independence, but if people keep starving and freezing, freedom and independence are useless. People only know the value of freedom and independence when they have enough to eat and wear."

Imbued with that ideology, hunger eradication and poverty reduction have always received special attention from our Party and State, considering this an urgent requirement, a key and strategic task of the process of rapid and sustainable development.

The Head of Government pointed out that in recent years, despite many difficulties, we have annually devoted a large amount of resources to investment, support, ensure social security, and improve the material and spiritual life of the people. National target programs on poverty reduction, new rural construction, and socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas have been effectively implemented.

In particular, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Party and State have promptly issued many practical and effective support policies for affected people, especially the poor. Over the past year, the Central Government and localities have spent more than VND 86 trillion to implement support policies for 56 million people and workers facing difficulties due to the pandemic and 730,000 employers. Along with that concern and the efforts of the people themselves, poverty reduction work has also received great support from domestic and foreign organizations and individuals, countries and international organizations.

According to the Prime Minister, in recent years, the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front at all levels has mobilized tens of thousands of billions of VND; helped build and repair hundreds of thousands of Great Solidarity houses for the poor and people in difficult circumstances; supported millions of poor people in medical examination and treatment...

With great determination, great efforts and many creative and effective ways, Vietnam has achieved impressive achievements in poverty reduction, which have been recognized by the people and highly appreciated by the international community. We have completed the Millennium Development Goals on hunger eradication and poverty reduction ahead of schedule.

The Prime Minister said that there are still many worries and concerns ahead as there are still nearly 2.4 million poor and near-poor households, accounting for more than 9% of households nationwide; many people, especially in remote areas, ethnic minority areas, mountainous areas, border areas, islands, etc., still face many difficulties and deprivations.

The Prime Minister was moved, "Joining hands for the poor - leaving no one behind" is not just a slogan but a concrete, practical action. Let's be there, put ourselves in the situation of the poor, of the less fortunate to help with all our hearts, with the emotions of the heart, with understanding, with respect, cherish and deep sympathy.

Poverty reduction is a national and people-wide issue, requiring a national and people-wide approach. It requires the active participation of the community and the coordination, support and assistance of all levels, sectors and international friends and partners.

In that spirit, the Prime Minister requested and called on ministries, branches, agencies and localities to continue to synchronously and effectively implement policies and strategies on poverty reduction, especially the three National Target Programs; promptly resolve arising problems; enhance knowledge and production skills, and create more jobs for the poor.

Domestic and foreign organizations, individuals and businesses continue to accompany, join hands, carry out practical activities, and contribute more to poverty reduction and social security. Along with that, the poor and near-poor need to further promote their will to be self-reliant, self-reliant and their aspiration to escape poverty sustainably.

On this occasion, the Prime Minister expressed his thanks and hopes that domestic and foreign organizations, individuals, businesses, overseas Vietnamese, and international friends - with a benevolent heart and a high sense of responsibility - will continue to make more effective contributions to Vietnam's hunger eradication and poverty reduction efforts in the new development period.

Before and within the framework of the program "The whole country joins hands for the poor in 2022", many organizations, units, businesses and individuals joined hands to contribute and support the poor so that "no one is left behind", with a total registered amount of over 1,177 billion VND for the Fund for the Poor and Social Security.

The Central Fund for the Poor continues to receive support through accounts in the following forms and addresses:

1. Received via Vietcombank account, with account name: Central "For the Poor" Fund; Account number: V999; At the Transaction Office, Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Foreign Trade of Vietnam (Vietcombank).

2. Received through the Social Policy Bank account: with account name: Central "For the Poor" Fund; Account number: 1000001000171717; At the Social Policy Bank Transaction Office.

3. Received via State Treasury account: Account name: "For the Poor" Fund, Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front; Account number: 3761.0.9054386.91046; At State Treasury, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi.

4. Receiving cash support: Planning and Finance Department (Room 109, Room 111 - Building B), Office of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, No. 46 Trang Thi, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi; Phone: 02439288480./.