PVN supports over VND250 billion for the poor

National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan speaks at the program on joining hands for the poor

The Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee (VFFCC), the Central Steering Committee (CSC) for national target programs and Vietnam Television organized a program to honor local and international individuals and organizations who have supported needy people and contributed to the fund.

Speaking at the event, National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan said the party and state consider poverty reduction a prerequisite for sustainable growth. She added that it is among the United Nations’ millennium and sustainable development goals to which Vietnam is committed.

She also said that due to the country’s sustainable development, the number of poor households has dropped to 6.7 percent, surpassing the target set by the National Assembly.

In addition to the interest and direction of the party, the National Assembly, the government, local and international individuals, businesses and organizations have joined charitable activities and contributed to the fund for the poor and the social security program. The national fund for the poor has received dozens of trillion Vietnamese dong, helping build thousands of charity houses and offering access to healthcare, education and business opportunities to hundreds of thousands of needy people.

According to Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, eight districts were removed from the poor district list, while 38 communes became new rural communes. However, there are still 2.9 million poor and near-poor households nationwide, especially in some remote and mountainous areas.

She said the road to sustainable poverty alleviation remains difficult, requiring creative initiatives and more resources.

She also called for continued assistance from the business community, individuals at home and abroad as well as foreign countries, and international organizations for Vietnam’s growth and poverty eradication efforts.

PVN Deputy General Director Do Chi Thanh (middle) presents a donation

On this occasion, VFFCC Chairman Tran Thanh Man launched the action month for the poor, which lasted from October 17 to November 18. He called for all levels, individuals, overseas Vietnamese, businesses, organizations, and donors to continue supporting and making contributions to the fund for the poor and the social security program.

Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan and leaders of the party and state sent messages to the national humanitarian portal 1409 to donate to the poor.

According to the organization board, during the course of the TV program, some 100 individuals, businesses and organizations pledged to donate VND857 billion, including VND77 billion to the fund for the poor and VND780 billion to the social security program.

In response to the action month for the poor, the Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (PVN) donated VND3 billion to the fund for the poor and pledged to support VND250 billion for the social security program. PVN also called for all employees to participate in the program by sending the code VNN to 1409 to contribute to helping the poor.