The Ministry of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs sets thetarget for this year to increase the incomes of households in poverty by160 percent over last year's levels,
Poor ethnic households and households in remote mountainous areas will receive assistance to raise their income by 250 percent.
Theaverage incomes of poor households in rural areas are currently 400,000VND (19 USD) per person per month, while the incomes of poor householdsin urban areas is 500,000 VND (23 USD) per person per month, accordingto the ministry. Both figures represent increases of 120 percent overthe 2010 levels, meeting targets set by the National Assembly, theministry says.
By comparison, the average per-capita income nationwide is 1.3 million VND (62 USD) per person per month.
For2009-11, the State budget allocated a total of 8.5 trillion VND (405million USD) towards the poverty reduction programme implemented underResolution 30a issued in 2008. On average, each of the 62 poor provinceshas received 130 billion VND (6.2 million USD).
"The biggestchanges thanks to the fund were improvements in infrastructure," saidNgo Truong Thi, head of the ministry's co-ordination office for thepoverty reduction programme. Over 2,000 construction projects werecarried out, including roads, bridges, medical stations and schools, andmore than 34,000 dilapidated homes were repaired.
With fundingfrom official development assistance and Government bonds, theallocation to poor provinces over three years rose by another 22trillion VND (over 1 billion USD) each, on average.
To meet thisyear's targets, the ministry plans to increase State funding for thepoverty reduction programme as well as call on support from individualsand enterprises, Thi said. Each district will receive up to 250 billionVND (11.9 million USD), compared to about 200 billion VND (9.5 millionUSD) last year.
Meanwhile, the Bank for Investment andDevelopment of Vietnam (BIDV) will sponsor seven poor districts, andPetroVietnam, Vietcombank and VietinBank have all committed to sponsorsome poor districts.
Based on lessons in implementing theproverty reduction programme in prior years, Thi said priority will begiven to the poorest areas first in order to ensure funds and manpowerare allocated wisely. Top priority will be given to northwest areas,including Dien Bien, Lai Chau, Lao Cai, Ha Giang and Cao Bang provinces
"DespiteVietnam's socio-economic development, we still have about 15 percent ofthe population living under the poverty line," said Thi. "We willtherefore continue to encourage all of society to join hands with thepoverty reduction programme."
The national poverty rate fell from 14.2 percent in 2010 to 12 percent last year. /.
Poor ethnic households and households in remote mountainous areas will receive assistance to raise their income by 250 percent.
Theaverage incomes of poor households in rural areas are currently 400,000VND (19 USD) per person per month, while the incomes of poor householdsin urban areas is 500,000 VND (23 USD) per person per month, accordingto the ministry. Both figures represent increases of 120 percent overthe 2010 levels, meeting targets set by the National Assembly, theministry says.
By comparison, the average per-capita income nationwide is 1.3 million VND (62 USD) per person per month.
For2009-11, the State budget allocated a total of 8.5 trillion VND (405million USD) towards the poverty reduction programme implemented underResolution 30a issued in 2008. On average, each of the 62 poor provinceshas received 130 billion VND (6.2 million USD).
"The biggestchanges thanks to the fund were improvements in infrastructure," saidNgo Truong Thi, head of the ministry's co-ordination office for thepoverty reduction programme. Over 2,000 construction projects werecarried out, including roads, bridges, medical stations and schools, andmore than 34,000 dilapidated homes were repaired.
With fundingfrom official development assistance and Government bonds, theallocation to poor provinces over three years rose by another 22trillion VND (over 1 billion USD) each, on average.
To meet thisyear's targets, the ministry plans to increase State funding for thepoverty reduction programme as well as call on support from individualsand enterprises, Thi said. Each district will receive up to 250 billionVND (11.9 million USD), compared to about 200 billion VND (9.5 millionUSD) last year.
Meanwhile, the Bank for Investment andDevelopment of Vietnam (BIDV) will sponsor seven poor districts, andPetroVietnam, Vietcombank and VietinBank have all committed to sponsorsome poor districts.
Based on lessons in implementing theproverty reduction programme in prior years, Thi said priority will begiven to the poorest areas first in order to ensure funds and manpowerare allocated wisely. Top priority will be given to northwest areas,including Dien Bien, Lai Chau, Lao Cai, Ha Giang and Cao Bang provinces
"DespiteVietnam's socio-economic development, we still have about 15 percent ofthe population living under the poverty line," said Thi. "We willtherefore continue to encourage all of society to join hands with thepoverty reduction programme."
The national poverty rate fell from 14.2 percent in 2010 to 12 percent last year. /.
