Overseas Vietnamese in France Raise Funds for Needy People

The Overseas Vietnamese Association and the Vietnamese Laborers’ Association in France have recently organized a charitable program at the Vietnamese Cultural Centre in France to raise money for needy people in Ha Tinh province on the occasion of Christmas and New Year s Eve, receiving high evaluation from French friends.Many French friends appreciated the event and were delighted to take part in such a meaningful event during Christmas and New Year to ease the difficulties of needy people in Ha Tinh province. (vietnamplus.vn Jan 2).Vietnam Needs VND2.4T for Sustainable Poverty Reduction in 23 Poor Districts.Vietnam is estimated to need a total VND2.4 trillion ($114.28 million) to support sustainable poverty reduction in 23 poor districts from 2013 to 2017, said the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affair (MoLISA).Under the policies on sustainable poverty reduction for 23 poor districts nationwide, the government will upgrade and build boarding schools for ethnic minority students, vocational training schools, irrigational works and communication routes in these areas.In the disadvantaged communes, focus will be put on improving basic infrastructure, including schools, roads, irrigational works, electricity grid and water supply plants, that are mostly out of date.Recent statistics showed that these districts are mainly inhabited by ethnic minority groups. In 2012, the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies (VBSP) disbursed VND12.7 trillion to assist more than 80,000 poor households in business production.Poverty reduction in Vietnam remains a priority as new forms of poverty are emerging and driving the inequality gap wider, experts said, urging the government to combine poverty eradication with disaster mitigation because they are closely linked.By March 2012, up to 2.58 million households were deemed poor and 1.53 million near-poor, as shown in a national survey by the MoLISA. (baodientu.chinhphu.vn Jan 1, baodientu.chinhphu.vn Dec 27)