Son La Assists Poor Families to Build New Homes

Financial aid has been provided for the construction of as many as 23,800 houses for poor minority families in the northern province of Son La since 2009, the provincial People's Committee have announced.The program was first launched three years ago with the aim of providing assistance to ethnic minority groups including Mong, Dao, Kho Mu, La Ha, Xinh Mun, Lao, Thai, and Muong. 3,200 new houses have been finished so far this year.Around VND366 billion ($17.5 million) has been raised for the program from various sources. The State Budget accounts for two thirds of the total with nearly VND222 billion ($10.5 million). Loans from provincial bank allocations for social policies contributed VND127 billion ($6 million). The remaining amount has been provided by enterprises and communities.The provincial People's Committee have said that the aid is equivalent to between VND7.2 million ($342) and VND8.4 million ($400) per household.They added that the province is attempting to complete work on another 2,800 homes before the Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday next February. (Vietnam News Nov 15)