Lang Son strives to reduce poverty

In Lang Son province, ethnic minorities account for more than 83%, living mainly in rural and mountainous areas. They still face many difficulties. In recent years, Party, authorities and mass organizations have made efforts to synchronously deploy solutions of rapid and sustainable poverty reduction.

People in Lam Ca commune, Dinh Lap district planted tea trees, contributing to poverty reduction

Mr. Nguyen Van Si (in Cau Hin village, Tan Huong commune, Bac Son district) said: "My family is poor and lacks capital for production, so our lives are extremely disadvantaged. In June 2023, my family was guided by officials of the Commune Farmers' Association and VBSP to apply for a loan of VND 90 million to change jobs and develop cow farming. Thanks to a loan with a preferential interest rate of 3.3%/year, my family is very excited and tries our best to get out of poverty. Currently, my family has bought five breeding cows and the cow herd is growing and developing well".

According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Phuong - Director of VBSP Lang Son Branch, after more than one year of implementing the loan program of job change according to Decree No. 28-ND/CP of the Government, many poor households in the province have accessed to preferential loans for production, contributing to sustainable economic development and lives improvement.

In 2023, more than 5,600 turns of the poor, near-poor and post-poor households received loans; more than 4,100 workers created jobs; more than 8,000 works of rural safe water and environmental sanitation built; more than 2,700 production and business households in disadvantaged areas received loans. Loan sources have helped the poor and other policy beneficiaries have capital for raising livestock and poultry; renovating and planting forests, fruit trees; etc.

Mr. Lam Van Vien - Deputy Head of the Provincial Ethnic Committee affirmed: Up to now, there are 11 communes getting out of the particularly disadvantaged situation. The rate of poor households in ethnic minority areas in 2023 decreased by 2.9%. More than 99% of households have access to national grid electricity and other suitable power sources. 81% of schools and medical stations are solidly built. 96% of ethnic minorities can watch television. 98% of ethnic minorities have access to hygienic water. 100% of officials from ethnic minorities are trained; etc.

Lang Son Provincial People's Committee has issued mechanisms, policies and projects to support sustainable poverty reduction in the period 2021 - 2025. Accordingly, the province continues to implement many policies to support the poor, such as: Support housing for poor and near-poor households; issue health insurance cards to the poor and ethnic minorities; support for electricity bills, vocational training, job creation, contributing to stabilize local people’s lives, boost production, increase their income and reduce poverty.

In 2024, Lang Son province will continue to promote propaganda and education; raise awareness and responsibility of officials and party members; encourage and guide the poor households on knowledge in production. Lang Son will also innovate and improve the quality of the emulation movement "For the poor, no one left behind", arousing the will to be self-reliant, self-reliant and promoting strength to get out of poverty.

Hung Trang