More resources to take care of the poor

Mobilizing resources to jointly care for the poor is a regular activity, promoted by agencies, units, organizations, businesses and donors during the peak month for the poor” every year. The resources donated to the "For the Poor" Fund at all levels have promptly supported and helped many poor households to have more conditions and motivation to rise up in life.

Diverse activities

Nguyen Hong Chien, Chairwoman of Lai Thieu ward’s Fatherland Front Committee in Thuan An city said that the ward is now home to 333 poor households under the province's criteria, accounting for 4.39% of total, 67 near-poor households or 0.88% of total. The number of poor and near-poor households in the area is still quite large, so leaders of the ward are very interested in taking care of them, helping them have more conditions to rise up in life. Every year, the ward’s Fatherland Front Committee recommends quarters to recheck households with extremely difficult difficulties in housing in order to give priority to supporting them.  

“Great unity” houses built from the "For the Poor" Fund

The ward also mobilizes businesses and donors to donate gifts to other disadvantaged households on Tet and great holidays. Specifically, in the first 9 months of 2023, Lai Thieu ward’s Mobilization Board of the "For the Poor" Fund provided unexpected support for 4 cases, gave gifts for poor households on the 20th anniversary of the national great solidarity festival. From resources mobilized, the "For the Poor" Fund of Lai Thieu ward built and handed over a “great unity” house worth VND 100 million to a household in need of housing in early November. In addition, provincial "For the Poor" Fund supported VND 100 million to build a “great unity” solidarity house for a poor household in the ward.

In localities, activities of caring for and supporting the poor are also regularly carried out by all-level authorities and Fatherland Front Committees by many forms. Upholding the nation's tradition of "mutual love, mutual affection", supporting the building of the "For the Poor" Fund at all levels and implementing social welfare programs always receives enthusiastic support from people of all strata, agencies, units, businesses, organizations and individuals in and out of the province. In 2023 alone, the Fatherland Front Committees at three levels have mobilized more than VND 492 billion from the "For the Poor" Fund and the social welfare program. Of these, the 3-level "For the Poor" Fund mobilized VND 9.6 billion while over VND 34.2 billion came from agencies, units, organizations, individuals, and businesses via the social welfare program.

According to Tran Thi Kim Lan, Vice-Chairwoman of provincial Fatherland Front Committee, Deputy Head of provincial Mobilization Board for "For the Poor" Day said that upon sources from the "For the Poor" Fund and social welfare programs, provincial Fatherland Front Committees at all levels have focused on implementing many activities to support the poor under the regulations. Specifically, provincial Fatherland Front Committees at all levels have coordinated with relevant units to help build 82 new houses and repair 13 “great unity” houses worth over VND 7.7 billion; built 6 “Red Cross” houses worth VND 400 million, 6 charity houses worth VND 280 million; spent over VND 1.3 billion on providing medical examination, treatment and free medicine for the poor...

Resource mobilization promoted

Mobilizing support for the "For the Poor" Fund at all levels is a meaningful work, thereby further affirming the participation of Fatherland Front Committees at three levels and member organizations, contributing to responding to the emulation movement of "For the poor - leaving no one behind" launched by the Prime Minister. Since early 2023, provincial Mobilization Board "For the Poor" Day has issued a plan to build the "For the Poor" Fund, with focus on the Peak Month from October 17 to November 18. This year's peak month "For the Poor" continues being an opportunity for each agency, organization, unit, business and people to demonstrate the spirit of "mutual love, mutual affection" with practical and specific actions to share and support people with  difficult circumstances, helping them have the opportunity to change and build a better life.

Mrs. Lan added that this year, businesses are also greatly affected from the difficult economic situation. Therefore, provincial Mobilization Board for "For the Poor" Fund has mobilized businesses to deduct a part of their profits to care for workers to maintain production along with directly contributing to the fund. Under the project of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee on building “great unity” houses for the poor in Dien Bien province, the province has so far mobilized VND 3.4 billion for this task.

Contributions to the "For the Poor" Fund at all levels are made in 2 forms: Directly receiving at provincial Fatherland Front Committee - Standing Committee for the "For the Poor" Fund at all levels; Transferring money to the "For the Poor" Fund account at the treasury or bank. Depending on the actual situation, localities will organize appropriate forms of mobilization, set up plans and organize activities to visit and support the poor on the occasion of the Peak Month "For the Poor" in 2023 and great national unity festival in specific forms such as building “great unity” houses, supporting seeds, capital... by mobilized resources. Provincial Fatherland Front Committee noted that localities should avoid mobilizing funds that are left in stock without a plan for use.

Although life is getting better and better, there are still many difficult cases in society. Joining hands to support the poor is not only to share love, but also the responsibility of each individual, each group and the whole community.

Reported by Hong Thuan-Translated by Kim Tin