Gov't aims to aid 61 poor districts

Hanoi (VNA) - Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Sinh Hung said that in 2009 and 2010,
the Government should replace all degraded cottages with concrete houses, and raise
the living standards of poor residents in 61 poor districts five to six times their
current levels.

He made the statement at a national conference to implement a Government
Resolution on a programme to help reduce poverty in the 61 districts.

Relevant ministry and sector leaders, the Vietnam Fatherland Front, governmental
and organisational leaders from 20 provinces and heads of 33 State-owned groups
and corporations attended the conference.

According to Ministry of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA), the
country now has 61 poor districts, including 797 communes and towns, which belong
to 20 provinces whose poverty levels are over 50 percent of the provincial
populations.

Hung said that the Government would give priority to economic development within
these areas.

Last year, the Government spent more than 331 billion VND (19 million USD) helping
these areas eradicate poverty.

Nationwide, 13.1 percent of all households remain poor and hungry, accounting for
18 percent of the total number of rural households.

However, within the 61 poor districts, over 90 percent of residents are living
below the poverty line. Most of these people are ethnic minorities.

MoLISA also said that during Tet (Lunar New Year) the Government had spent more
than 3.8 trillion VND (217 million USD) helping poor families enjoy the year's
biggest traditional festival.-Enditem