The northern mountainous province of Son La has distributed 1,300 tonnes of rice to 44,596 students in disadvantaged areas, the first aid package for the 2014-2015 academic year following the Prime Minister’s June 18, 2013 decision.

The rice is part of the more than 6,000 tonnes of rice to be supplied by the national reserve for the purpose in the 2014-2015 academic year.

Under the PM’s decision, each student will receive 15 kilogrammes of rice each month for a period of five months. The assistance has helped reduce the number of students leaving school in Son La.

In the previous academic year, the province distributed 5,340 tonnes of rice for 43,464 students living in disadvantaged areas.-VNA