Hà Nội set to take on poverty

February 13, 2017 - 10:35

The capital city aims to reduce the number of poor households by 10,230 this year, a decrease of 0.6 per cent of last year’s total, and support at least 99 per cent of children in extremely disadvantaged circumstances.

A volunteer group donates food to the poor in Hà Nội. In 2016, the city reduced the number of poor households by 23,600. — Photo infonet.vn

HÀ NỘI — The capital city aims to reduce the number of poor households by 10,230 this year, a decrease of 0.6 per cent of last year’s total, and support at least 99 per cent of children in extremely disadvantaged circumstances.

These are the main goals of the city’s programmes on social welfare, focusing on poor people and underprivileged children.

The city’s Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs said that it would reduce poverty for ethnic minorities by allocating funds from the State budget and organisations and individuals.

In 2016, the city reduced the number of poor households by 23,600. As many as 177,230 poor people were eligible for monthly financial support.

The city allocated VNĐ240 billion (US$10.5 million) to provide insurance cards for about 386,780 poor people. More than 20,000 poor households received loans, and the city spent VNĐ28.8 billion ($1.26 million) on electric bills for households.

This year, the city plans to carry out programmes to protect children. There are nearly 1.8 million children in Hà Nội, 14,000 of which are underprivileged, with 50,780 more at risk of becoming underprivileged.

Currently, the city-wide Children Protection Fund has mobilised VNĐ11.9 billion ($523,600), while the district-level funds hit VNĐ6.7 billion ($294,800) for those in need of assistance.

The city also aims to implement a child injury prevention model in 584 communes. — VNS

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