The Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) will intensify its “Day for the Poor” campaign and monitor the implementation of poverty reduction projects to improve their efficiency. VFF Central Committee President Nguyen Thien Nhan made the commitment at a January 3 working session with the National Assembly Standing Committee’s supervisory delegation. Reviewing poverty reduction from 2005–2012, Nhan said the VFF wants to provide the Government with the information it requires to tailor its policies to individual regions. The campaign “Day for the Poor” has been warmly received by wider society, the business community, and non-governmental organizations. About VND24,585 billion has been raised to build or repair 638,211 houses, help the poor celebrate traditional Lunar New Year (Tet), and provide scholarships to disadvantaged children. NA Committee for Social Affairs Chairwoman Truong Thi Mai said the VFF’s contributions to poverty reduction and natural disaster mitigation make it a social welfare pioneer instrumental to successfully reaching the poverty reduction Millennium Development Goals. The NASC would like to see the VFF embrace its role as a bridge linking the Party, Government, citizens, and international friends in a network of support for disadvantaged people across Vietnam, Mai said. Nhan said mechanisms should be devised to encourage active citizen engagement in poverty reduction rather than dependence on State support. Approaches to poverty reduction require updating. VFF will encourage scientists and architects to design charity houses suitable to each region. Nhan affirmed the VFF will focus more on monitoring the implementation of poverty reduction projects and extend poverty reduction models with proven track records of success. (vov.vn Jan 4)
