Poverty reduction information... sustainable poverty escape

In the era of digital explosion, in addition to traditional information channels, social networks, especially Zalo application, have been widely applied due to their ability to connect instantly and flexibly, contributing to supporting people in rural areas to quickly and fully access information serving community life as well as economic development and stabilizing security and order.

Head of Tan Loi village, Minh Hoa commune, Cao Tien Vien, updates information for people via social media channels - Photo: XP

Connecting to every home

Previously, whenever there was a need to notify the people, the executive committee of Tan Loi village, Minh Hoa commune had to use loudspeakers or assign village chiefs, party cell secretaries, and heads of the front work committee to go to each house to notify. But for more than a year now, all information related to residential areas and people has been updated quickly, accurately, and promptly on the village's Zalo group.

Tan Loi Village Chief Cao Tien Vien said that most of the village's more than 200 households are included in this Zalo group, the remaining few are mainly elderly and poor households who do not use smartphones. Whenever there is new information that needs to be propagated and disseminated, the village executive board will proactively post it on the Zalo group so that people, no matter where they are or what they are doing, can promptly grasp the information. The rate of accessing information via Zalo is over 80%.

According to Mr. Vien, for some households who work far away or go to the forest, they cannot grasp all the information of the village and commune during the day. When they return, through the Zalo group, they can grasp more promptly issues such as social security propaganda, insurance policies and mobilizing fundraising movements.

Most recently, Tan Loi village used Zalo group to convey the official dispatch of Minh Hoa commune People's Committee on prevention and control of African swine fever, thereby helping people, especially livestock farmers, to be aware of protecting livestock and strengthening disease prevention and control.

Mr. Dinh Minh Dong in Tan Loi village invested in developing pig farming. When he discovered that his pigs were sick, he just thought that they were just normal sick pigs, and that they would get better if he gave them medicine. However, through the Zalo group, he accessed the epidemic prevention and control office provided by the village, so he proactively checked and discovered that his family's pigs were infected. He immediately reported to the village and the authorities came down to check and promptly handle and destroy them.

Paving the way for poverty reduction

Surveys in some mountainous and rural areas show that most villages, hamlets and sub-regions use social networks to connect and communicate with people; the number of participating families is from 50% to 80%. Through associations and groups on social networks, information is updated by village and hamlet officials so that people can easily grasp it in a timely manner and there is always two-way interaction so that officials can find solutions, not allowing complicated problems to arise. In particular, access to policies and guidelines on supporting livelihood development and sustainable poverty reduction is always a priority.

According to Ms. Ho Thi Khuynh, Y Leng village, Dan Hoa commune: Through social media groups of local organizations and unions, she is promptly informed of the Party's guidelines and policies, the State's policies and laws, access to movements and association activities as well as knowledge to build a happy family, raise children, support training in economic development knowledge, start-ups... Thanks to that, she and many people in the village have developed livestock and crop models, and know how to connect to consume agricultural products on social networking platforms to increase income.

Mr. Tran Giang Ha, Director of the Minh Hoa Social Policy Bank Transaction Office, said that in the process of implementing policy credit activities, especially when having to coordinate with many social organizations, commune People's Committees and savings and loan groups at the grassroots level, quickly grasping information and promptly communicating instructions are key factors. Therefore, the unit has proactively applied Zalo network as a channel to manage daily work.

Through Zalo groups divided into communes, associations, and units, they can send transaction schedules, announce new policies, monitor debt collection, handle overdue debts, and even exchange business directly with commune officials. This method not only saves time and travel costs, but also increases initiative and flexibility for both the bank and the coordinating units.

Mr. Dinh Xuan Khoang, Group 5, Minh Hoa Commune, is the Head of the Savings and Loan Group with over 20 years of experience. Mr. Khoang shared that since the Zalo group was established to connect with the policy bank, we receive information much faster. Transaction schedules, forms, capital sources... are all updated on the group, very convenient.

In addition, through Zalo groups, local Party committees and authorities have coordinated with commune police and border guards to grasp information about the security and order situation in the area to quickly resolve it.

In order to maximize the benefits of social networks and digital platforms in the coming time, local authorities need to continue to raise digital awareness for officials and people, especially promoting the role of associations and digital volunteers in bringing technology closer to the community. This is a practical step, contributing to reducing information poverty, opening a way out of poverty for people in rural and mountainous areas with many difficulties. Thereby, realizing the goal of sustainable socio-economic development in the digital age.

X. Phu

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/giam-ngheo-thong-tin-thoat-ngheo-ben-vung-196015.htm