Reducing poverty in Dong Giang: Finding causes, determining solutions

(QNO) - The number of poor households according to the new standards in Dong Giang is still high. To sustainably reduce poverty, the district has issued many resolutions and implementation plans for the upcoming period. Quang Nam Newspaper reporters had an interview with Mr. Dinh Ngoc Thanh - Head of the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs of Dong Giang district to clarify the solutions that will be implemented in the coming time.

Mr. Dinh Ngoc Thanh - Head of the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs of Dong Giang district. Photo: CT

Reporter: - Dong Giang is a mountainous district with many difficulties, the rate of poor households at the end of 2022 was 45.18%. The locality determined the reason why the number of poor households in the area is still so high, sir?

Mr. Dinh Ngoc Thanh: In recent years, despite many difficulties due to the impact of natural disasters, storms, floods and the COVID-19 pandemic, with the drastic and focused direction of the Party Committee and local authorities, poverty reduction work in the district has achieved many outstanding achievements and results.

According to the results of the investigation and review by the end of 2022, the whole district has a total of 7,512 households. Of which, poor households account for 3,394 households (45.18%), a decrease of 511 households (7.7%) compared to 2021; 490 near-poor households (6.52%), an increase of 337 households (4.45%) compared to 2021. Along with that, in 2022, the number of households escaping poverty is 583 households; 72 newly poor households (18 households re-poor).

However, the implementation of poverty reduction policies still reveals some shortcomings. For example, the allocation of capital sources, mechanisms to encourage vocational training and job creation for the poor are not suitable to the characteristics of the regions. The selection of households and models to participate in production support projects and diversify livelihoods to replicate poverty reduction models has not innovated both cognitive thinking and production methods; on the contrary, resources are concentrated on the spread-out model, which is divided equally.

Housing support for poor households is still difficult due to low quotas, the requirement to borrow policy capital, and contributions from clans and communities. Investigation and screening to identify poor households in some localities is still confusing because the criteria have changed but the instructions are not specific. The implementation of poverty reduction policies in some commune-level localities is sometimes not timely due to pressure on time and assigned targets.

Dong Giang District Military Command presents livelihoods to poor households in the area. Photo: A TING HAN

The causes of the above limitations are both objective and subjective. But in general, the district determined that the main reason is that the implementation of the Central and Provincial guidelines on supporting production and diversifying livelihoods to replicate poverty reduction models in some localities is still slow. The staff working on poverty reduction at the grassroots level is not stable and changes frequently. A part of the poor lack the awareness to rise out of poverty, and still rely on the support of the government and the community...

PV: - Could you tell us what are the key goals that Dong Giang has identified in implementing sustainable poverty reduction?

Mr. Dinh Ngoc Thanh: First of all, the district prioritizes investment in building synchronous infrastructure according to new rural criteria for communes and towns; focusing on extremely disadvantaged communes and communes registered to reach new rural standards in the period of 2021 - 2025. Support to improve income criteria through policies to support production development, job creation, and create stable income for poor, near-poor, and households escaping poverty to escape poverty sustainably. Vocational training, job placement consultation, training and guidance on science and technology transfer; replication of effective production models; preferential loans.

Support high-value crop and livestock varieties; contract out forest care and protection. Provide market advice, support businesses in linking with farmers to produce and consume products, and employ local poor and near-poor laborers. Build and replicate effective production and poverty reduction models based on the application of science and technology, introduce new and effective varieties into production so that poor, near-poor, and newly escaped-poverty households can access, learn, and participate, while simultaneously combining to effectively solve product output problems.

Support to improve indicators of shortages in basic social services, ensure social security through increased investment, improve the effectiveness of education, health, housing, clean water and sanitation policies; provide information for poor and near-poor households to access and improve basic social services. Raise awareness, roles and responsibilities of all levels on sustainable poverty reduction policies and strategies; improve the organization and staff of poverty reduction work; improve the capacity of grassroots poverty reduction staff; inspect, monitor and evaluate programs at all levels; investigate to identify poor and near-poor households and classify poor and near-poor households.

Mobilize many resources to serve the implementation of sustainable poverty reduction, in which priority is given to timely and sufficient state budget allocation to implement poverty reduction support policies. In particular, focus on mobilizing contributions from enterprises, mobilizing sponsorship from organizations and individuals to achieve the goal of sustainable poverty reduction.

PV: - What are the key solutions to be applied for effective implementation in practice, sir?

Mr. Dinh Ngoc Thanh: The district will continue to strengthen the leadership of the Party, the direction of the government, the coordination and supervision of the Fatherland Front and mass organizations to raise awareness and responsibility for organizing and implementing sustainable poverty reduction, especially investigating and reviewing to identify poor and near-poor households. Promote the implementation of mechanisms, policies, programs and projects to support socio-economic development; effectively implement the National Target Program on Sustainable Poverty Reduction, the National Target Program on New Rural Development, the National Target Program on Socio-Economic Development in Ethnic Minority and Mountainous Areas for the period 2022 - 2025.

Dong Giang will also focus on supporting investment in developing infrastructure, such as roads, electricity, healthcare, schools, domestic water, irrigation; works serving cultural needs such as commune radio relay stations, cultural houses, community activity houses, commune, village and hamlet sports areas; and other small-scale infrastructure works proposed by the community, in accordance with the customs, practices and needs of the community, in accordance with the project's objectives and district planning.

In addition, the district also focuses on investing in building resettlement areas to ensure stable housing, living and production for the people. Support economic development conditions, create jobs; improve the quality of life to solve income shortages and shortages of basic social services for poor and near-poor households. Strengthen inspection, monitoring and evaluation of poverty reduction support programs...

PV: - Thank you!

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