Poverty reduction picture in Yen Thuy district

Early summer morning, Ha hamlet, Phu Lai commune (Yen Thuy) is still covered in mist. On a small hillside, Mrs. Bui Thi Vinh is busy cutting elephant grass, calling her newly weaned calf back to the barn. A few years ago, her family was still on the commune's list of poor households. Now, thanks to support from the National Target Program (CTMTQG) for sustainable poverty reduction, life has changed a lot.

Workers at a garment enterprise in Yen Tri commune, Yen Thuy district, including those who have participated in vocational training classes under the poverty reduction program, now have stable jobs.

In a mountainous district where nearly 70% of the population is ethnic minorities like Yen Thuy, each story like Mrs. Vinh's is a vivid highlight in the picture of poverty reduction that is gradually changing color, persistently and deeply.

Innovation in implementation methods

From Resolution No. 16-NQ/TU, dated August 11, 2017 of the Hoa Binh Provincial Party Committee on strengthening leadership in implementing the National Target Program on Sustainable Poverty Reduction to 2020, with a vision to 2030, Yen Thuy district has concretized it with a series of synchronous and consistent mechanisms from the district to the grassroots level. The Resolution not only identifies poverty reduction as a regular and long-term political task of the entire political system, but also sets a specific goal: reducing the number of poor households by 2 - 2.5% each year, aiming for a multidimensional and sustainable approach.

In line with that spirit, Yen Thuy district has gradually made the program a part of its comprehensive development strategy in terms of economy , society and administration. According to Mr. Bui Huyen, Vice Chairman of the District People's Committee, the poverty rate in the district has decreased to 3.56%, with an average decrease of nearly 2% per year.

Behind that rate is a systematic operation system: from perfecting the Steering Committee of the National Target Programs, assigning tasks to each department, division, and sector, to developing plans to attach responsibility to each commune and target group. Each disbursed capital, each cow granted, each vocational training class opened is reviewed, evaluated, and monitored in many rounds, not only by the government but also by the Fatherland Front , Women's Union, Farmers' Association, etc.

In the period of 2022 - 2025, the district is allocated a total budget of more than 15.9 billion VND from the Central Government, most of which is for career projects such as: diversifying livelihoods, developing poverty reduction models, vocational training, job support, communication, program monitoring... A small part of the capital is invested in upgrading infrastructure, mainly serving the modernization of the labor market and building an online job exchange.

Initial results

The cow breeding model of Mrs. Bui Thi Vinh's family is a part of the livelihood diversification project that Yen Thuy district has implemented in extremely disadvantaged communes. In the period of 2022 - 2025, from the capital of more than 7.5 billion VND allocated from the central budget, hundreds of poor, near-poor, and newly escaped-poverty households will be supported with livestock, seedlings, technical guidance, and a commitment to consume products.

According to the Vice Chairman of the District People's Committee, the project does not stop at support, but also creates momentum for households to reorganize production in groups, initially forming cooperatives - a premise for long-term linkage and real poverty reduction.

At the same time, the project to develop vocational education and sustainable employment also opens new doors from… a computer. With a budget of nearly 2.4 billion VND, the district has invested in upgrading information technology infrastructure, building an online job exchange and opening vocational training classes for people from poor and near-poor households.

In some remote communes of Yen Thuy, the first job fairs held in 2024 have helped dozens of people connect with companies in and outside the province. Some households have also registered to learn high-tech agricultural skills, switching from growing cassava to growing melons and watermelons in chains linked with cooperatives.

At the same time, the poverty reduction information sub-project implemented in communes of Region III has helped upgrade the radio system, broadcast more than 1,000 leaflets, banners, and billboards on poverty reduction policies and production technical instructions. These are small tools but have great value, helping people "read" opportunities that they did not know about before.

From a poor district where many people only wanted support, Yen Thuy has gradually transformed into a place where people know how to ask - learn - do - connect to rise up.

Looking back on the journey of over 3 years, it can be seen that the National Target Program for Sustainable Poverty Reduction in Yen Thuy has not only given people cows, vocational training classes or a few communication sessions. More importantly, it has gradually changed the way people look at themselves - from waiting for help to wanting to stand on their own two feet.

Minh Vu

Source: https://baohoabinh.com.vn/274/202161/Buc-tranh-giam-ngheo-o-huyen-Yen-Thuy.htm