The Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) has raised VND1.5 trillion ($71 million) for the poor under the “Day for the Poor” campaign carried out in 2012.The figure was released at a conference in Hanoi on Dec 27 to review the implementation of the campaign.The amount of money was used to support the repairing of 84,900 dilapidated houses for poor families and the provision of free health services for disadvantaged people, among other services.In addition, the VFF’s Fund for the Poor has also mobilized VND6 trillion in the form of social welfare programs during the year.The total money raised by the fund during the past 12 years has amounted to VND8.5 trillion. More than 1.3 million poor households in 17 localities nationwide have got new houses and millions of the poor have received assistance in various forms thanks to the campaign.Addressing the seminar, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Van Ninh said that the campaign is in line with the Party and State’s major policy of poverty reduction and social welfare provision as well as with the national tradition of solidarity and mutual support. The deputy PM also asked ministries and departments to actively join hands with the VFF in implementing these programs.The Vietnamese government has spent a total VND8.8 trillion on social security and poverty reduction this year, surging by 174% from a year earlier, said the General Statistics Office.As many as 72 international non-governmental organizations (INGOs) have pledged to fund about $153 million for Vietnam’s poverty reduction scheme next year (Nhan Dan –The People Dec 28, Ha Noi Moi – New Hanoi Dec 28)
