As of last month, the percentage of poor households in the country stood at 15 per cent. Do you think the country will achieve its goal of reducing that figure to 11 per cent by late next year?

A programme of poverty reduction was implemented in 2006. So far 2.8 million poor households have been given soft loans and 1.33 million poor people have been given business training.

The State has given medical insurance cards to 15 million poor people - 90 per cent of whom have been offered free healthcare. Five million students have been granted tuition-fee exemption or have had their fees reduced.

However, the programme is facing many difficulties and obstacles that need to be resolved.

What kind of difficulties and obstacles?

First is the policy of medical insurance for the poor. The current medical insurance cards last for one year. The term is too short. I think the card should last two years. Households who have just risen out of poverty should be granted preferential healthcare for two years, like poor households.

Second is the mechanism adopted for tuition-fee exemption and reduction. The system used at the moment is not suitable. Money should be allocated from the State Budget to poor households so they can pay their children’s tuition fees.

Third, granting soft loans and forestry and fishing rights has been effective. However, some poor people are failing to take out loans because they don’t know how to go about it. Besides, the loan amount is still very low - about VND4-5 million(US$312) per household - which does not fully meet the needs of the poor.

Fourth, the size of the State’s investment in the scheme should be increased.

What are your views on the accusation that poor households don’t have the will to escape from poverty by themselves?

Yes, there is some truth to that.

Changing habits and the mindset of poor people is vital to reducing poverty. The poor should understand that the State will create policies that help them but it will not give them handouts to escape poverty.

What areas will the national programme on poverty-reduction focus on next year?

Capital for the programme next year is estimated at VND331.7 billion (US$20.7 million). The programme will focus on districts and communes which have a higher percentage of poor households and ethnic minority groups.

The State will introduce policies to encourage enterprises to invest in poor regions and employ poor workers.

Poor people will be able to access social services through assistance programmes in education, healthcare, housing and land.

In addition, staff in charge of poverty-reduction activities in districts and communes will be given additional training.

Source: VietnamNews.