Hà Nội authorities launches the Month for the Poor on Tuesday. — Photo nhandan

HÀ NỘI — The People’s Committee of Hà Nội launched the Month for the Poor and Social Welfare in 2020 at a ceremony on Tuesday.

At the event, the Fund for the Poor of Hà Nội received more than VNĐ28.2 billion (US$1.2 million) in donations from a number of organisations and individuals.

The organising board also honoured 90 organisations, businesses and individuals who have made great contributions to the city’s social welfare activities, and inaugurated 90 Great Unity houses in celebration of the capital city’s 17th Party Congress and the Việt Nam Fatherland Front (VFF)’s 90th traditional day.

Speaking at the launching ceremony, President of the VFF Committee of Hà Nội Nguyễn Lan Hương said 2020 has been a difficult and challenging year for Hà Nội and Việt Nam at large due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, with the motto of “No poor people left behind,” the VFF chapters of the capital have encouraged local people to continue supporting its Fund for the Poor.

In the first nine months of this year, the municipal Fund for the Poor raised more than VNĐ15 billion. Thanks to the capital, nearly 400 Great Unity houses, including 90 inaugurated this time, have been built, while thousands of poor households have gained access to preferential loans and health care services.

She appreciated valuable support from offices, organisations and individuals, and called for continued assistance for the municipal Fund for the Poor as well as social welfare programmes.

Chairman of the city People’s Committee Chu Ngọc Anh said the capital city has paid special attention to allocating resources for the implementation of poverty reduction and social welfare policies.

Implementing the national target programme on sustainable poverty reduction, Hà Nội follows closely the policies of the Party Central Committee, the Government and the Prime Minister and has issued specialised social policies and prioritised resources to carry out social policies and support rapid and sustainable poverty reduction, he said.

As of late September, the number of poor households in the capital city accounted for only 0.4 per cent. Of note, 12 districts reported no poor households, with Cầu Giấy and Hai Bà Trưng having no near-poor households.

Together with policies of the municipal People’s Committee, the VFF at all levels has carried out substantial activities to care for and support poor households, people living in difficult circumstances and policy beneficiaries.

Thanks to the Fund of the Poor, poor people have gained houses, tools and capital for production and business secured stable jobs, and gained access to health care. Notably, in the first nine months of 2020, the capital city supported local people affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and issued many support policies to help them in disease prevention and life stabilisation.

The city leader said one of the key tasks of the 17th municipal Party Congress is to harmonise economic growth with cultural development, promote social progress and equality, conduct social governance, increase social welfare and the living conditions of local people, and reduce the gap between urban and rural areas.

At the launching ceremony, Secretary of the municipal Party Committee Vương Đình Huệ presented gifts to seven underprivileged households in the city. — VNS