In 2023, the city of Di An has proposed multiple solutions to better care for vulnerable households, nearly-poor individuals, policy beneficiary families, and impoverished children, through which, the city has utilized available resources to construct housing, provide financial support, and create employment opportunities, thereby ensuring stable incomes and improving living standards for the community. Emphasis has also been placed on activities aimed at enhancing spiritual well-being.
The local government presents a solidarity house to the family of Mrs. Nguyen Thi Chuong in Nhi Dong 1 neighborhood, Di An ward.
Taking care of housing for various target groups
In order to effectively care for the poor in the area, the city of Di An has mobilized social resources to work together, especially for households facing difficulties in housing, to help them stabilize their lives and settle down. Since the beginning of the year, the city's Fund for the Poor has conducted surveys of each family's circumstances to consider providing assistance. On average, each house is supported with 100 million VND, in addition to the amount contributed by each household, so most of the solidary houses built for poor households have large, luxurious areas, ensuring living conditions.
In the early days of December, when organized by the local authorities to present houses, Ms. Ho Thi Thanh, residing in Tan Phu neighborhood, Tan Binh ward, couldn't hide her joy. "So this year, my family has a new house to celebrate Tet, what could be happier." Due to difficult family circumstances, we have been living in a temporary sheet metal house for many years. With a home, each member of the family strives to work and purchase additional living necessities, improving our quality of life. This year, many families in Di An city have also experienced the same joy as Thanh.
In 2023, the Fund for the Poor Committee of Di An city successfully campaigned for the construction of 8 solidarity houses for households facing housing difficulties, with a total construction cost of approximately 800 million VND. Mr. Tran Van Hop, Head of the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs of Di An city, shared: "To continue assisting poor households in sustainable poverty alleviation, in the coming period, the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs will continue to implement some related policies such as constructing and donating houses, providing electricity subsidies for poor households, and supporting education for children of poor and nearly-poor households. Furthermore, we continue to advise the People's Committee to introduce employment opportunities for children of poor and near-poor households, ensuring their access to employment and income stability.”
In 2023, the Fund for the Poor of Di An city and its districts has successfully mobilized over 1.1 billion VND. From this year's and previous years' funds, the city has allocated financial assistance to poor households, nearly-poor households, and households facing difficulties, supporting production development with a total amount of 920 million VND. Additionally, 137 scholarships have been awarded to underprivileged students for the 2023-2024 academic year, and 42 bicycles have been donated to impoverished and disadvantaged students, amounting to 214 million VND. As a result, these students now have better conditions to pursue their studies.
Social security ensured
In the area of Di An city, there are currently 389 poor households (accounting for 0.87% of total households), 384 near-poor households (accounting for 0.86% of total households), and approximately 1,000 beneficiaries of monthly preferential subsidies. Mr. Pham Van Bay, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Di An city, stated: "Social welfare work is always a matter of concern and implementation by the city. The city has focused on mobilizing resources to take care of people's lives, solve employment issues, and implement policies, preferential regimes, and support for those who have made contributions and vulnerable social groups, especially workers, in a timely and efficient manner, particularly during holidays and festivals.”
In 2023, the city of Di An disbursed a total amount of 45.7 billion VND for social policies to various beneficiaries. Additionally, they provided financial assistance of 240 million VND for the repair of two meaningful houses. The "Gratitude and Reciprocation Fund" received a donation of 327 million VND, surpassing the target by 109%. Furthermore, they supported the burial expenses for 245 cases, amounting to 3.4 billion VND. Moreover, they extended and renewed health insurance cards for 2,434 individuals; exempted land use fees for 7 cases of individuals with meritorious services and their relatives; provide gifts to disabled people with an amount of 150 million VND; organize centralized nursing in Khanh Hoa province and at home for 307 beneficiaries.
To enable poor and disadvantaged individuals to rise out of poverty sustainably, in addition to providing housing, electricity, and health insurance cards, the city of Di An also introduced employment opportunities for 2,036 individuals (achieving 101.8% of the plan) and provided vocational training for 158 cases. The city's Social Policy Bank disbursed loans to 1,480 poor, near-poor, and newly escaped poverty households, totaling 132.874 billion VND. With these borrowed funds, many households were able to engage in production, business, and trade, generating stable income.
According to Mr. Pham Van Bay, in order to improve social welfare work in the future, the city will continue to review and develop plans to effectively implement sustainable poverty reduction efforts. The city is fully committed to providing timely support and assistance to policy beneficiaries and socially disadvantaged groups, especially during holidays and festivals. It will mobilize the "Gratitude and Reciprocation Fund" and the "Fund for the Poor" to achieve and exceed targets. The city continues to enhance the quality of vocational training and address employment issues for the working-age population in the locality; promote awareness among all segments of the population about gender equality and the prevention of social vices, for the progress of women; closely monitor the payment of unemployment insurance, and implement policies to ensure fairness in the rights and obligations of workers.
Reported by Quang Tam – Translated by Vi Bao
