The Mekong Delta province of Tien Giang strives to reduce the poverty rate to 2.99% by the end of 2019, down 0.41%, or 1,950 households, from 2018. Pham Minh Tri, Director of the provincial Department of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs said that to this end, the province will strengthen communications to get social consensus in sustainable poverty reduction. Tien Giang will organize training courses for officials engaging in poverty reduction, while improving locals’ skills and supporting them to get rid of poverty. Tri said that the province will continue applying support policies, such as reducing electricity price for poor households, helping them access preferential credit from the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies, assisting students from poor households in tuition, and offering free legal consultancy for poor people. Relevant departments will roll out specific measures in this effort, including building infrastructure in Tan Phu Dong districts and localities facing extreme difficulties; assisting the development of agro-forestry-fisheries production; multiplying effective poverty reduction models; and creating optimal conditions for the poor to access policies, resources and markets. Alongside, Tien Giang will organize community dialogues on poverty reduction policies, while introducing efficient models in the field. (Vietnam Plus Apr 3)
