HÀ NỘI — The Ministries of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, Information and Communications and the Việt Nam Journalists Association launched a writing contest on poverty reduction on Thursday.

The contest aims to offer journalists the opportunity to work with ministries by writing about poverty alleviation plans from 2016 to 2020, promoting information on State policies and laws that could help in reducing poverty.

It also provides a chance for journalists to praise outstanding locals, teams, individuals, households and organisations involved in sustainable poverty reduction.

Outstanding examples and experiences, initiatives and models that help effectively end poverty will be praised and developed.

The contest also aims to raise public awareness and heighten the responsibility of people and authorities at all levels in implementing poverty alleviation policies and programmes.

Speaking at the launch in Hà Nội, Deputy Prime Minister Vương Đình Huệ said, “The State is continuing to promote works on sustainable poverty reduction as well as building the new rural model.”

“Hunger eradication and poverty reduction after 30 years of đổi mới (renewal) is the bright spot in the country’s millennium goals programme,” he said.

The contest is also a measure to achieve targets in reducing poverty and to raise the will of residents, especially the poor, to emerge from poverty, he noted.

Minister of Information and Communication Trương Minh Tuấn also called on people to join hands and work for the poor so that no one is neglected.

“Poverty reduction is an important point in the overall programme of social development,” he noted.

The contest will be held annually from now to 2020. — VNS