Strong shift in sustainable poverty reduction

The road from the center of Long Phieng border commune to Din Chi village has been concreted, helping people travel conveniently in all four seasons.

Behind that change is the persistent effort of the Party Committee and government in putting poverty reduction policies into practice, creating a foundation for the poor to rise up.

The 2021-2025 period is the time when Son La province starts implementing the National Target Program on Sustainable Poverty Reduction in a context of many difficulties, such as: High poverty rate, many highland communes lack essential infrastructure, people's lives still depend heavily on State support.

Not only lacking capital, the locality also faces a major challenge after the arrangement of two-level local government, requiring high unity in direction and management. Right from the beginning, the locality established the Steering Committee for the National Target Program from the province to the grassroots level, assigning specific tasks to each sector and each level.

The work of reviewing poor and near-poor households was carried out systematically, updating household changes according to new criteria, ensuring that no subjects were missed and no duplication was allowed. After completing the apparatus, the commune and ward authorities went directly to each village and hamlet to talk to the people, explain policies, and resolve problems right at the grassroots level.

These practical methods have brought about clear results, such as in 3 years, the poverty rate of Son La province decreased from 21.66% in 2021 to 10.89% at the end of 2024, an average decrease of 3.59% per year and exceeding the target of the Resolution of the 15th Provincial Party Congress.

Notably, four previously poor districts have been removed from the list of poor districts; the poverty rate among ethnic minorities has decreased rapidly, reflecting the comprehensive efforts of social security policies. In many highland communes, people share the same opinion: "Wherever roads are opened, life changes."

In the 2020-2025 period, Son La has focused resources on building 51 essential infrastructure projects, from roads, domestic water, safe electricity to cultural houses, schools, and irrigation. Along with that, 85 other projects have been maintained and repaired to maintain stable operations.

According to comrade Nguyen Duc Thang, Secretary of the Muong E Commune Party Committee, the concrete roads have helped ease the transportation of agricultural products, opening up opportunities for highland goods to connect with markets. Many domestic water projects have helped people no longer have to walk kilometers to carry each can of water home.

Some remote villages that were previously isolated during the rainy season now have bridges and concrete roads, creating safe paths for students to go to school... Unlike before, poverty reduction support in the province no longer stops at "giving fish" but has shifted to "giving fishing rods", guiding the poor to access new economic models that can increase their income stably.

The models of linking enterprises, cooperatives and households in the production of coffee, sugarcane, fruit trees, etc. have been promoted. Many poor households have been supported with cows and goats for breeding, plant varieties, and essential materials; groups of households linked to the consumption of agricultural products have been formed to help reduce input costs and increase output value. Along with that, the province also focuses on job creation.

In the 2021-2025 period, Son La provided vocational training for more than 13,000 workers from poor, near-poor and newly escaped poverty households; supported more than 93,000 workers to access the job market.

In particular, 83 workers from poor districts (formerly districts) have been supported to work abroad under contracts, opening up sustainable income opportunities for many remote families who have limited access to high-quality labor markets. An important highlight in the province's poverty reduction efforts is expanding access to basic social services for the poor and near-poor.

To date, 100% of poor and near-poor households have been granted health insurance cards; the rate of children attending school at the right age has reached 97%; the rate of malnutrition and stunting has decreased to 26%.

Thanks to the support of livelihood support programs, many households have boldly transformed from small-scale production to a commodity economic model, increasing the value of agricultural production and being more proactive in participating in value chains. For example, the housing support policy in Thuan Chau and Sop Cop communes for about 1,400 poor households has created a more secure foundation, helping families feel secure in stabilizing their lives and developing their livelihoods. Along with that, 94% of poor households have clean water; 62% have clean toilets...

In addition to supporting and improving the living standards, the awareness of ethnic minorities has also changed significantly. People pay more attention to their children's education, proactively learn new production techniques, boldly participate in vocational training courses and gradually reduce their dependence on state support.

Head of the Rural Development Department Ho Trung Kien said: “In the coming time, the province will continue to innovate management methods, increase the effectiveness of policy implementation, and promote propaganda to raise awareness and create consensus among the people. At the same time, prioritize capital for essential infrastructure projects; expand sustainable livelihood models; strengthen links between enterprises, cooperatives and households; focus on vocational training, job creation and support for sending workers from difficult areas to work abroad.”

With practical steps and respect for people's strength, Son La is building a foundation for sustainable poverty reduction, striving to reduce the poverty rate to 7.89% by the end of 2025 with the determination to leave no one behind.

Article and photos: LUYEN NGOC TUAN

Source: https://nhandan.vn/buoc-chuyen-manh-trong-giam-ngheo-ben-vung-post928335.html