Vietnam Spends VND2.86T on Social Security, Poverty Reduction in Nine Months

The Vietnamese government has spent a total VND2.86 trillion ($136.19 million) on social security and poverty reduction in the first nine months of this year, as shown in the monthly report by General Statistics Office’s statistics. Of the sum, VND794 billion was used to assist people who have rendered service to the nation, VND352 billion for poor households, and VND1.71 trillion for famine relief and other social welfare programs. Thanks to government support, between-crop hunger in rural areas has been curbed considerably. Between Jan and Sept, total hungry households facing food shortage is 401,400, down 30.7% year on year. Last year, Vietnam poured nearly VND84 trillion into social security programs, up 20% from a year earlier, according to the Ministry of Finance. In 2011, economic uncertainties, high inflation plus grave consequences of natural disasters made lives of ordinary people, especially the poor, more difficult. Thus, the government adopted Resolution No. 11 on socio-economic management, which spelled out tightened financial policies, but focused on social welfare. (GSO Sept Edition)