National target programmes to be reshuffled

National target programmes should be reshuffled and combined into just two programmes, one on building new-style rural areas and the other on sustainable poverty reduction, according to the Government.

In a report submitted to the 10th ongoing session of the 13th National Assembly in Hanoi on October 22, the Government said the re-organisation will help concentrate resources for most urgent issues and improve the effectiveness of investment.

Regarding the programmes on rural modernisation, the Government proposed focusing on building essential infrastructure in villages, developing production as part of restructuring agriculture and increasing farmers’ income, rural environment and hygiene, and ensuring social order and safety.

Equally important is developing education and heath care services together with promoting the role of political-social organisations in building new-style rural areas.

As regards the programmes on sustainable poverty reduction, the Government suggested supporting investment in building infrastructure in poor coastal, sea and island districts, ethnic, mountainous and border areas while diversifying local livelihood and multiplying community-based poverty reduction models.

It is advisable to support workers from households living under or near the poverty line and ethnic minority groups to work abroad.

This national target programme will prioritise investment resources for needy districts and communes, especially those in coastal, sea, island, ethnic minority, border, and mountainous areas.

The Government also said the allocation and utilisation of the State budget for the programmes must be controlled strictly with clearer responsibility defined for different levels of authorities.

It is crucial to assign more authority and responsibility to local governments in selecting priority goals and deciding the allocation of investment.

The involvement of individuals and organisations in the drives should also be enhanced, the government said.

Between 2011 and 2015, the Government has implemented 16 national target programmes with the total approved budget of over 168 trillion VND (7.56 billion USD).

Nearly 324 trillion VND (14.58 billion USD) has been mobilised to realise the programmes during the period.

As a result, the proportion of poor households in the country has been reduced to below 5 percent in 2015 from 14.2 percent in 2010 (averagely 2 percent per annum).

The percentage of rural families using hygienic water has increased from 80 percent to 86 percent.

The ratio of malnourished children fell to 14.5 percent from 17.5 percent. The mortality rate among children under five years old and under one year old is expected to decrease by 22.5 per thousand and 14.8 per thousand respectively in 2015.

An estimated 552,300 people were provided with jobs during the period as a result of the national target programme on employment.-VNA