On September 7, the Provincial People's Committee held a conference to review 20 implementation years of Decree No. 78/2002/ND-CP dated 4th October 2002 of the Government on credit for the poor and other policy beneficiaries. Attending the conference were Nguyen Loc Ha, Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; Bui Quang Vinh, Deputy General Director of Vietnam Bank for Social Policies (VBSP); and leaders of departments, agencies and localities in the province.
Nguyen Loc Ha (left end), Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, awards a banner of the Provincial People's Committee to Provincial Bank for Social Policy (PBSC) for its achievements over 20 implementation years of credit policy for the poor. Image: Reported by Quang Tam - Translated by Ngoc Huynh
Impressive numbers
During the 20 years, provincial leaders directed departments, agencies, branches and local administrations to coordinate with PBSC to well implement preferential policies supporting the poor, near-poor people. Loan programs from PBSC contributed to not only the implementation of the National Targeted Program for Sustainable Poverty Alleviation, but also ensuring the province's social welfare. Through socio-political organizations, credit funds entrusted by associations and mass organizations have reached hundreds of thousands of poor and near-poor households.
Total value of loans granted by PBSC over the last 20 years reached more than 10,700 billion VND, with 445,610 turns of poor households and other policy beneficiaries; total debt collection was nearly 6,400 billion VND; total outstanding loans as of 31st July 2022 reached more than 4,440 billion VND, an increase of more than 4,358 billion VND compared to 2003.
Over the past 20 years, PBSC and its district branches supported 66,805 turns of poor and near-poor households to get loans, creating jobs for 181,362 workers, contributing to reducing the unemployment rate, increasing income, and expanding production. These units disbursed loans for 43,585 students having difficult circumstances; loans for 141,049 households to build 282,098 rural clean water and sanitation works; built new houses for poor households, social housing with 707 houses; 237 turns of employers taking out loans to do severance payment, pay wages to resume production to 124,103 employees. This loan program helped 43,627 households get out of poverty, no households falling back into poverty.
To expand the network of savings groups, strengthen supervision
In order to help the poor and policy beneficiaries to access preferential credit policies, the Provincial Bank for Social Policy opened transaction offices and sessions in 89/91 communes, wards and townships of the province, and held on a fixed date every month; at least once a month including Saturday and Sunday. During this day, the bank performed disbursement, debt collection, interest collection, deposit opening and collection... This way saves time, is acclaimed by the people, brings high efficiency, is a step forward in administrative procedure reform.
Nguyen Loc Ha, Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, presents certificates of merit from the Provincial People's Committee to excellent individuals in implementing loan program for poor households.
PBSC constantly develops and expands the network of savings and loan groups. Currently, there are 1,640 savings and loan groups in all areas and hamlets of the province. With an average of 47 members/group, 50 million VND/member and 2,360 billion VND/team. The PBSC set standards to evaluate effectively the lending and debt collection, thereby bringing high efficiency. Savings and loan groups directly contact and work with borrowers, hence it plays a very important role in credit implementation, acts as a bridge between the banking system and borrowers, and is an extension of the banking system to each area, each hamlet. As a result, the Government's preferential credit fund was disbursed and transferred quickly, accurately and efficiently to the poor and other policy beneficiaries, ensuring publicity and democracy.
At the conference, Bui Quang Vinh said that Provincial Bank for Social Policy had grown steadily thanks to the timely attention and direction of the Party committees and provincial leaders; become a good support for poor households and other policy households in difficult times. The bank gradually improved its own specific organization in accordance with conditions of the province. Particularly, PBSC advised the Party committees and local administrations to well implement Directive No. 40-CT/TW of The Secretariat on strengthening the Party's leadership in social policy credit, thereby creating a larger and more effective loan source.
Speaking at the conference, Nguyen Loc Ha said that PBSC was established in 2003 to provide preferential credit to the poor and other policy beneficiaries. After 20 years, the Provincial Bank for Social Policy has well performed its tasks, made practical effects on the lives of people, especially poor households. This policy has been contributing to the implementation of national target programs for sustainable poverty alleviation, new rural construction and social welfare in the province. In the coming time, the PBSC system needs to closely coordinate with Party committees and administrations at all levels to develop high-quality human resources to meet task requirements in the new period.
Reported by Quang Tam - Translated by Ngoc Huynh
