Opening up new lives for those who have gone astray.

In implementing Decision No. 22/2023/QD-TTg dated August 17, 2023, of the Prime Minister on credit policy for people who have completed their prison sentences (Decision No. 22), the Quang Tri Town Branch of the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies (VBSP) has actively coordinated with the police force and socio-political organizations to review, assess, and guide the completion of loan applications in order to disburse funds promptly. Thanks to this humane policy, many people who had made mistakes have gained more motivation to reform themselves, build new lives, and earn the trust of the community.

Mr. Tran Huu Tinh (far right), residing in Quarter 2, Ward 1, Quang Tri town, developed a forest planting model using preferential loan capital from the Social Policy Bank - Photo: HT

After serving his 6-year and 10-month prison sentence and returning to his hometown, Mr. Tran Huu Tinh, residing in Ward 2, Precinct 1, Quang Tri town, was determined to rebuild his life. With an initial loan of 80 million VND from the Social Policy Bank branch in Quang Tri town, Mr. Tinh proceeded to improve the land and purchase seedlings to develop a reforestation model.

Thanks to proper care, nearly 2 hectares of his melaleuca forest are thriving and are expected to yield a harvest in the next three years. In addition, Mr. Tinh also works part-time at a nearby mechanical workshop to earn extra income to cover living expenses and pay his bank loan interest on time.

Mr. Tinh shared: “The companionship and support from the local government and the Social Policy Bank exceeded my expectations. In particular, the staff of the Social Policy Bank branch in the town, the Veterans Association of the ward, and the neighborhood savings and loan group have disseminated information, guided me through procedures, and helped me access preferential loan capital for those who have completed their prison sentences, giving me more opportunities to develop economic models. I am always grateful for that and feel I am not alone, not left behind despite my past mistakes.”

Similarly, for Ms. NTHP, residing in Quarter 1, Ward 2, the anxieties and worries about how to start over after serving her prison sentence and returning to her hometown were dispelled thanks to the encouragement of her family and the support of the neighborhood's Savings and Loan Group. Through the dissemination of information and guidance from the neighborhood's Savings and Loan Group, Ms. P. was able to access preferential loans of 100 million VND from the Quang Tri Town Branch of the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies to develop her family's economy and stabilize her life.

Thanks to her perseverance, hard work, and determination to rise from her setbacks and rebuild her life, Ms. P. researched, learned, and opened a small stall near her home to sell fast food, and from there developed many new dishes to serve customers according to the season.

In addition, using preferential loans from the Social Policy Bank, Ms. P. also imported many kinds of candy, cakes, and soft drinks to distribute wholesale and retail to restaurants and grocery stores inside and outside the town. “In the period immediately after finishing my prison sentence, I felt very insecure and hopeless because I had no capital and no profession.”

However, thanks to the encouragement of my family, the timely information and financial support from the neighborhood savings and loan group and the branch of the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies, I gained the motivation and confidence to overcome that difficult period, confidently start my own business, and rebuild my life. Currently, my customer base is very stable, and my family's average income is 15-20 million VND per month,” Ms. P. confided.

Decision No. 22 of the Prime Minister , effective from October 10, 2023, is a humane policy that opens up opportunities for reintegration into the community for those who have made mistakes, helping them stabilize their lives and develop their family's economy.

With the overarching goal of resolutely supporting former prisoners in the locality to access credit, ensuring that loans are not given to ineligible individuals and that no eligible, needy individual is denied access to the program, after more than a year of implementation, the Quang Tri Town Branch of the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies has provided loans to 10 former prisoners totaling 840 million VND. Through monitoring and supervision, all households have used the loan funds for their intended purpose, effectively, and have repaid interest on time.

According to Le Hai Ha, Director of the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies (VBSP) branch in Quang Tri town: “To implement Decision No. 22 of the Prime Minister in the locality, in the past period, the VBSP branch in Quang Tri town has advised the People's Committee of the town to develop a credit plan, and at the same time coordinated with the police force and the People's Committees of communes and wards to disseminate preferential policies on loan capital so that people can understand and have the opportunity to access it.”

Through inspection and monitoring, the policy capital has initially proven effective, helping those who have completed their prison sentences to rehabilitate and develop their family economies. In addition, the Social Policy Bank branch in the town actively cooperates with businesses and production and trading establishments to survey job and employment needs, providing support and advice to those who have completed their prison sentences to find stable jobs, quickly reintegrate into the community, and thus reduce the risk of recidivism.”

For the majority of those who have completed their prison sentences, reintegration into the community is not easy because they often lack employment and capital for production and business. Therefore, the urgent disbursement of preferential loan funds under Decision No. 22 of the Prime Minister will significantly contribute to helping those who have completed their prison sentences stabilize their lives, avoid recidivism, and contribute to ensuring security and order in the locality.

Ha Trang

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/mo-ra-cuoc-doi-moi-cho-nhung-nguoi-lam-lo-194091.htm