An Hoi Tay Ward gives away 'fishing rods', opening a sustainable way out of poverty

In An Hoi Tay ward (HCMC), the National Target Program for Sustainable Poverty Reduction has dispelled poverty by giving people 'fishing rods' for livelihood.

Implementing the National Target Program on Sustainable Poverty Reduction for the period 2021 - 2025, An Hoi Tay Ward not only focuses on supporting livelihoods but also promotes information poverty reduction, helping people access technology, grasp knowledge and business opportunities on digital platforms. Reporters of Agriculture and Environment Newspaper had an interview with Mr. Nguyen Kha Chinh - Vice Chairman of An Hoi Tay Ward People's Committee on this issue.

An Hoi Tay Ward determined that sustainable poverty reduction must be associated with information poverty reduction and digital transformation. Photo: Thuc Vy.

Sir, after the two-level government came into stable operation, how has poverty reduction work in An Hoi Tay ward changed?

After implementing the two-level government, although initially facing difficulties, thanks to the attention, thoroughness, and direction of superiors and the sharing and contributions of the people, the poverty reduction work of An Hoi Tay ward has many positive changes, the rate of near-poor households in the area has decreased significantly. Currently, there are no poor households in the ward.

To achieve these results, in the past time, the Ward People's Committee has developed detailed plans to raise standards for each poor household, supporting and creating conditions for households to access basic social services. At the same time, mobilizing businesses and sponsors in the ward to care for and create consensus from the ward to the neighborhood to achieve effectiveness in implementation.

At the same time, review poor and near-poor households that are lacking in housing, have clear legal status and ensure construction conditions according to regulations to proceed with repairs or new construction. The Ward People's Committee has also mobilized benefactors to contribute funds to support the wiring of 5 houses of near-poor and disadvantaged households with a total value of 50,000,000 VND. Provide a list of the number of people of each poor and near-poor household to Trung An Water Supply Joint Stock Company to receive support for monthly and quarterly reductions in domestic water prices to ensure that 100% of near-poor households and households that have just escaped the city's near-poor household standards have access to safe domestic water sources.

In addition, the ward also conducts a review of cases of poor and near-poor households lacking social insurance to promote advocacy work. Thereby, mobilizing sponsors to support cases that want to participate in social insurance and are lacking social insurance but cannot afford it. Support the cost of purchasing health insurance cards according to regulations for near-poor households and households that have just escaped the near-poor household standard and have the conditions and desire to buy cards to enjoy the policy of supporting medical examination and treatment costs.

To achieve sustainable poverty reduction, the Ward People's Committee has determined the principle of "giving a fishing rod, giving a fish", focusing on promoting propaganda to raise awareness of poor and near-poor households about the importance of vocational training. Conducting surveys on vocational training needs, having appropriate career orientation, mobilizing labor export to solve employment for workers after vocational training, increasing income, reducing poverty. Surveying, proposing and supporting means of livelihood, introducing jobs for members of poor households who need to find jobs.

In addition, the Ward People's Committee regularly coordinates to provide emergency support for difficult cases such as: issuing 20 certificates to students who are members of near-poor households and households that have just escaped the city's near-poor household standard for the period 2021-2025 each semester or every year; confirming for more than 32 cases of exemption or reduction of tuition fees, applying for scholarships and reducing hospital fees for cases in difficult circumstances.

An Hoi Tay Ward promotes propaganda and training on basic digital skills for people, especially near-poor households. Photo: Thuc Vy.

Currently, what programs and models is the ward implementing towards the goal of sustainable poverty reduction, especially information poverty reduction?

Determining that sustainable poverty reduction must be associated with information poverty reduction and digital transformation, the Ward People's Committee is currently implementing a number of key programs such as: Plan No. 17-KH/DU dated September 24, 2025 of the An Hoi Tay Ward Party Committee on implementing Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW dated December 22, 2024 of the Politburo on breakthroughs in science and technology development, innovation and national digital transformation in An Hoi Tay Ward.

Plan No. 68/KH-UBND dated October 8, 2025 of the People's Committee of An Hoi Tay Ward on implementing the key project of the "Digital Road" model. Plan No. 78/KH-UBND dated October 27, 2025 of the People's Committee of An Hoi Tay Ward on implementing Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW dated December 22, 2024 of the Politburo on breakthroughs in science and technology development, innovation and national digital transformation in An Hoi Tay Ward.

In particular, the Ward People's Committee focuses on diversifying propaganda forms, combining traditional and modern. Regularly organize meetings at the Neighborhood, Women's Union, and Youth Union to disseminate policies and instructions on using digital services. Maintain Zalo groups in the Neighborhood and official fanpage to provide timely information, ensuring publicity and transparency. At the same time, the Ward People's Committee assigns youth union members, cadres, and civil servants to directly support the elderly, near-poor households, and newly escaped-poverty households when performing online administrative procedures or participating in digital transformation programs.

In the coming time, does An Hoi Tay ward have any new orientations or solutions to promote information poverty reduction, helping people exploit digital technology to get rich in their hometown?

The biggest difficulty in poverty reduction in the ward is that some households are limited in digital skills and do not have the habit of using technology to receive information. Some elderly people or near-poor households do not have the conditions to buy smart devices. In addition, telecommunications infrastructure in some areas is still not really stable, affecting the ability to access limited information.

To overcome these difficulties, in the coming time, the Ward People's Committee will continue to focus on three main directions:

Firstly, strengthen the work of understanding the area, pay attention to the lives, needs of finding and introducing jobs for members of near-poor households, near-poor households who have just graduated and are unemployed. Create conditions for them to learn to drive or other professions that suit their abilities.

Second, promote propaganda and training in basic digital skills for people, especially near-poor households.

The third is to build a model of "Digital Quarter, Digital Route" where people can look up information, register for public services, and promote products online.

The Ward People's Committee also encourages young people to start businesses with digital business models and e-commerce, contributing to the formation of a digital economic ecosystem in the locality. The goal of the Ward People's Committee is to help people not only escape poverty in terms of income but also become rich through knowledge and technology.

Thank you very much!

The Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of An Hoi Tay Ward maintains the "Loving Meal" model of social security activities at the ward association: distributed 756 meals to members, women and people in difficult circumstances worth 15,120,000 VND, awarded 78 scholarships, 4 bicycles to students in difficult circumstances with a total amount of 174,000,000 VND on the occasion of National Day September 2, 2025.

Source: https://nongnghiepmoitruong.vn/phuong-an-hoi-tay-trao-can-cau-mo-loi-thoat-ngheo-ben-vung-d782791.html