Gov't steps up poverty reduction

Hanoi (VNA) - The Government will carry out a poverty reduction project at 61 districts throughout the country which register a poverty rate of over 50 percent.

Under the project, which will be carried out between 2009 and 2020, specific
mechanism and policies will be introduced to help accelerate poverty
reduction and ensure that it is maintained in a sustainable manner at the
above-mentioned localities.

The poor districts will receive financial assistance to improve their
infrastructure, education-training and health care systems in addition to
re-planning their residential areas to help reduce human and property losses
from natural disasters.

Along with preparations for this project, the Government has decided to
introduce a new poverty line early next year to protect the poor from being
hit by inflation.

Under a new poverty line submitted to the Government by the Ministry of
Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs, an urban resident who earns 390,000
VND or less a month and a rural resident earning 300,000 VND or less a month
are considered poor.-