(VOVworld) - Despite economic difficulties, the Vietnamese government has paid special attention to the poor, especially during the Tet holiday. This has been a movement for the whole society and a major task of local government, and the business community and an important building block of the national social welfare policy.

Minister of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, Pham Thi Hai Chuyen delivers gifts to policy beneficiaries in Bac Ninh province (Photo: MOLISA)

Caring for the poor intensifies a few months before the Tet celebration, The Minister of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, Pham Thi Hai Chuyen has asked the President for an additional Tet allowance of nearly 400 billion dong for policy beneficiaries, 3.5 billion more than last year. The Ministry has asked the government to allocate 23 thousand tons of rice to needy people. Minister Chuyen said this is a major effort by the Party and State in the context of economic difficulties: “The government has instructed local administrations to care for poor households to help them enjoy Tet. Vietnam is one of the ASEAN countries with extensive social welfare policies, especially for the poor. The government has asked provinces to review those classified as poor households to make sure all of them have a jubilant Tet.”

 The Prime Minister in his Tet instructions on Tet celebration has asked provinces to ensure a sufficient supply of goods to border, remote and ethnic regions. He asked ministries and provinces to follow Party and State guidelines and policies on caring for the poor and social beneficiaries. Minister Chuyen said: “The government has instructed provinces to ensure adequate care for people in need. We need to pay them visits and encourage them. Mobilization of social resources, especially from associations and the business community should be promoted to care more for the poor.”

 The Vietnam Fatherland Front has allocated from its Fund for the Poor more than 3 billion dong worth of Tet gifts. They will be sent to provinces, army units, remote areas and islands. Front Chairman Huynh Dam said that the Fatherland Front has encouraged organizations and individuals to care more for the poor: “We have promoted mobilization of organizations and individuals to help the poor in a practical way. Many individuals have pledged to support the poor despite the economic doldrums.”

 The Ministry of Industry and Trade has joined businesses in transporting affordable goods to remote areas to care for the low incomers. Minister Vu Huy Hoang talks about measures to ensure a sufficient supply of goods for Tet: “Provinces have prepared stockpiles of goods since the middle of the year to prepare for Tet. With subsidies worth more than a trillion dong, provinces have done their best to ensure a stable supply of merchandise for Tet.”

Provincial efforts to improve Tet for the poor are part of Vietnam’s policy of fostering social welfare for all.