Vietnam NA Adopts $3.2B Poverty Relief Program in 2021-2025

Vietnamese National Assembly approved Resolution on the National Targeted Program for Sustainable Poverty Reduction and Social Welfare in the 2021-2025 period with a minimum capital of VND75 trillion ($3.22 billion), on July 28 morning, local media reported. Of these, VND48 trillion will be extracted from state budget, VND12.69 trillion from local budgets, and the remaining VND14.31 trillion from other sources. The program aims to reduce poverty in a multidimensional, inclusive, and sustainable way; limit re-poverty and poverty arise; and help the poor and poor households have living standards above the minimum level and access basic social services. It mainly covers deeply poor districts and communes in coastal areas and islands; with priorities given to poor households of ethnic minorities, children and women from poor households, and poor households with meritorious services to the revolution. Under the program, the rate of poor households in accordance with multidimensional poverty benchmark is set to decrease by 1%-1.5%/year, and the rate of poor ethnic minority households could decline by over 3%/year. In addition, 30% of poor districts and 30% of deeply poor communes in coastal areas and islands are aimed to escape poverty. (Bao Tin Tuc, Quoc Hoi, Dan Toc Mien Nui, Bao Quoc Te, Bao Chinh Phu)