Recent years have witnessed the implementation of social policies in the city achieve many important and comprehensive results with an increasingly synchronous and complete policy system. The highlights of social policies have become a solid support for the poor and disadvantaged people, hereby contributing to the local socio-economic development, improving the material and spiritual life of residents.

The Da Nang Sponsoring Association for Poor Women and Disadvantaged Children presents gifts to disadvantaged residents in Lien Chieu District. Photo: PHAN CHUNG

Based on the orientation of the national government, the city has promulgated poverty reduction projects in stages with the city's own poverty line. The local administration has created all conditions for poor to access supportive policies, stabilise their lives and escape poverty in a sustainable manner.

Some policies to support the poor can be mentioned in line with reality such as housing improvement policies, the exemption and reduction of apartment rents for poor households, preferential credit policies, the exemption and reduction of school fees for pupils living in financially difficult circumstances. In the 2012 - 2021 period, with the participation of the whole political system, the total resources for implementing the programme to help poor households amount to more than VND 3,500 billion.

In addition, local districts have mobilised more than VND967 billion to provide additional support for poor households to be lift out of poverty. Poverty reduction policies, adopted by the national and municipal governments, have helped the poor across the city access basic social services, stabilise their lives, and ensure social welfare. In the 2012 - 2021 period, the timely promulgation of social policies helped 57,906 poor households to rise out of poverty and the annual average poverty rate decreased by 2% or more.

According to Mr. Ngo Xuan Thang, the Chairman of the Da Nang chapter of the Viet Nam Fatherland Front Committee, in order to carry out the task of poverty reduction and social assistance for those living in extremely difficult circumstances, his agency annually operates the ‘For the Poor’ Fund, ‘The Peak Month for the Poor’ and many other charity and humanitarian activities.

In particular, the ‘The whole country joins hands for the poor, leaving no one behind’ emulation movement has been widely and effectively deployed. The Viet Nam Fatherland Front at all levels has made active appeals for donations from businesses, benefactors, and religious organisations.

On special occasions, such as the Lunar New Year, relevant local agencies have aroused and promoted the community responsibility to join hands to help the poor celebrate Tet in a warm and happy ambiance with highly-practical gifts.

It is known that in the 2014 - 2021 period, the ‘For the Poor’ Fund at all levels mobilised more than VND 220 billion to help build more than 1,100 new houses andrepair more than 3,390 houses for the poor, support livelihoods for more than 12,500 households and gave financial support for more than 19,400 poor students.

In a similar vein, the Da Nang Women's Union has also implemented many good and creative ways to help women escape poverty in a steady manner. In addition, vocational training, job counseling activities for local women are regularly concerned with many flexible and diverse solutions, closely linked with the models of creating jobs for them.

Determining that the implementation of social policies is a key task, on a regular basis, the Da Nang administration has issued a resolution on strengthening the Party's leadership towards sustainable poverty reduction by 2030.

Reporting by PHAN CHUNG - Translating by A.THU