Poverty Reduction - From Policy to Life: Effectiveness of the National Target Program on Sustainable Poverty Reduction (Part 1)

Responding to the Prime Minister's movement "The whole country joins hands for the poor - No one is left behind", Tay Ninh not only promptly and adequately brings the Party and State's preferential policies to the poor, but also implements many good models and creative ways in poverty reduction. Accordingly, from 2021 to present, the province has reduced the number of poor households from 8,371 to 2,613 after the merger.

Lesson 1: Effectiveness of the National Target Program on Sustainable Poverty Reduction

The National Target Program for Sustainable Poverty Reduction for the 2021-2025 period (hereinafter referred to as the program) is one of the programs and goals of great social significance that the Party and the State have organized and implemented. After 5 years of implementation, the program has brought about many practical results, creating opportunities for the poor to escape poverty, stabilize their lives, especially avoiding the situation of falling back into poverty or becoming poor.

The National Target Program for Sustainable Poverty Reduction helps Phuoc Vinh Dong commune no longer be a coastal commune and meet new rural standards.

Beneficiaries

Implementing the National Target Program on Sustainable Poverty Reduction for the 2021-2025 period, Tay Ninh has implemented 6/7 projects (DA), of which the province has not implemented DA 5 on housing support for poor households in the province with poor districts. Up to now, the projects have been implemented deeply and widely, received consensus and positive response from the people and brought about many practical and practical results.

Specifically, implementing Project No. 1 on Supporting investment in developing socio-economic infrastructure for poor districts, particularly disadvantaged communes in coastal and island areas helped Phuoc Vinh Dong coastal commune, Can Giuoc district (now Tan Tap commune, Tay Ninh province) to be recognized by the People's Committee of Long An province (old) to meet new rural standards in 2023, and at the same time be recognized to escape the situation of special difficulty in Decision No. 576/QD-TTg, dated June 28, 2024 of the Prime Minister.

Accordingly, from 2021 to June 2024, from the central budget, the commune will invest in 6 new rural traffic projects and drainage systems with a total cost of nearly 11 billion VND; and maintain and repair 5 projects with a total cost of 1.2 billion VND.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Kim Ngoan (residing in Phuoc Vinh Dong commune, Can Giuoc district, now Tan Tap commune) shared: “With its location near the sea, every year in the dry season, Phuoc Vinh Dong commune (old) has 6 months of saltwater intrusion. People's lives are extremely difficult, roads have not been invested much, mainly red stone roads. Since the State invested in asphalting the road surface, traveling has been more convenient, everyone is excited".

The implementation of Project No. 4 on Vocational Education Development and Sustainable Employment has contributed significantly to the job creation for the poor. Tay Ninh Province (old) has opened more than 100 vocational training classes for workers from poor, near-poor, newly escaped-poverty households and low-income people, with nearly 2,000 participants. Long An Province (old) and Tay Ninh Province (old) organized 66 job fairs, attracting more than 4,300 participants; organized 6 job fairs, 9 job consultation conferences.

Director of Long An Employment Service Center Tran Van Tieng said: “Most of the workers from poor, near-poor and newly escaped poverty households need support. The Center always strives to connect, advise, orientate careers and find jobs, thereby meeting their wishes. In addition, the Center also guides the poor to learn a trade to easily find jobs and have a stable income.”

Give a "fishing rod" instead of a "fish"

Gradually shifting from the "free" policy to "conditional" policy, creating conditions for the poor to have stable jobs, etc. is the purpose and meaning of Project No. 2 on Diversifying Livelihoods and Developing Poverty Reduction Models.

In reality, the project opens up opportunities and confidence for the poor to escape poverty, stabilize their lives and avoid falling back into poverty.

Vice Chairwoman of Hau Thanh Commune People's Committee Nguyen Thi My Mieu said: "In 2024, Hau Thanh Dong Commune (now Hau Thanh Commune) implemented the Snakehead Fish Farming model with 8 poor, near-poor and newly escaped-poverty households participating. Each household was supported with nearly 25 million VND to invest in buying fish fry and fish feed. Snakehead fish farming does not require much care, the food source is taken advantage of locally, suitable for the circumstances of many people. On average, snakehead fish can be harvested after 4-6 months of farming, the selling price ranges from 50,000-60,000 VND/kg. From this model, the commune has reduced the number of poor households by 2".

Mr. Luong Van Mai's family is one of 8 households in Hau Thanh Dong commune that received capital support from Project No. 2 on Livelihood Diversification and Poverty Reduction Model Development to implement the Snakehead Fish Farming model.

Mr. Mai shared: “A few years ago, during the flood season, I went fishing and set traps to find bait fish to raise snakehead fish. After each fishing season, my family earned tens of millions of dong in profit. But recently, my health has been poor, and the source of aquatic products during the flood season has become increasingly scarce, and I have lost my source of income.”

Sharing this situation, the commune put the family on the list of near-poor households to enjoy preferential policies of the Party and State for the poor. Especially the capital support from Project No. 2. Thanks to the support, Mr. Mai's family rose up to escape poverty and stabilize their lives.

In the period of 2021-2025, the whole province has implemented 338 models under Project No. 2; supporting livestock, machinery, equipment, and means of production for nearly 1,600 poor, near-poor, newly escaped-poverty households and people with disabilities without livelihoods,... With the above figures, it is evident that Project No. 2 under the National Target Program on Sustainable Poverty Reduction has really come into life, and the poor have had access to preferential capital sources.

Looking back at the nearly 5-year journey of implementing the National Target Program on Sustainable Poverty Reduction, Long An (old) and Tay Ninh (old) provinces have promoted the effectiveness and significance of the program. This is the solid foundation to help the new Tay Ninh province have no more poor households by 2030./.

(to be continued)

Le Ngoc

Lesson 2: Community Responsibility

Source: https://baolongan.vn/giam-ngheo-tu-chinh-sach-den-cuoc-song-hieu-qua-tu-chuong-trinh-muc-tieu-quoc-gia-giam-ngheo-ben-vung-bai-1--a202565.html