Poverty alleviation in Dong Nai province

In 1994, the Hunger Eradication and Poverty Reduction (HEPR) program was deployed in Dong Nai province. At that time, more than 56000 households in the whole province was living in poverty (over 16 percent of the population). According to the new criteria approved by the government, the poverty rate for households was 12% in the beginning of 2001(representing 53000 households). The province has set a target of bringing the number of poor households down to 8000, a decrease of 45000 in the end of 2005.  

During the past 5 years, many poor families have pulled themselves out of poverty thanks to access to the loans that HEPR program provided. The credit helped the poor generate income and alternative economic activities. The province has offered loans of VND 115.909 billion to 39413 poor households over the past years.

On the other hand, the Centers for Agricultural Promotion at provincial and district levels have provided technical assistance for 31105 farmer households, the vast majority of whom were poor. The province especially concerned about poor people from minority ethnic groups. Cadres and workers from the centers for Agricultural Promotion arrived in villages of minority ethnic groups in order to help farmers understand of cultivation technique on slope land and the use of fertilizers in having high productivity as well as manage their crop production. With substantial deliveries of donated seeds, tools and fertilizers worth more than VND 1.2 billion has lifted 2283 households living in poorest communes of the province out of poverty. Recently, Dong Nai has also expanded vocational training programs aimed at young adults living in local rural and remote areas. Through the vocational training program, young people are offered the opportunity to learn a skill that is in demand. In addition to receiving vocational training, they also receive practical training in how to look for work in the current economic environment.

Local vocational education and training prioritize free access to schooling for all returnees and people from minority ethnic groups within the province as well as help them find a job that matches their existing aptitudes.

Summarize the implementation of program on hunger eradication and poverty alleviation for 2001-2005, Dong Nai has created stable jobs for 17,000 poor laborers and mobilized donations from local enterprises and individuals to build 5,450 charity houses for the poor. Besides, the province has effectively carried out free-of-charge health care program for poor people. 400,000 local poor people have been provided health insurance cards over the past 5 years. The province not only donated notebooks and books for poor children but also combine with the local organizations and enterprises to offer scholarships, repair old classrooms and build new schools in the remote areas of the province.

In the middle of 2005, Dong Nai has completed the Programme for Socio-Economic Development of poorest communes (known as 135 Programme). During the past 5 years, all districts and towns throughout the province have invested over VND 422 billion to build rural transport system, schools, medical stations, cultural centers and markets. The local government will create conditions to enable the poor living in the remote areas of the province to obtain employment and earn more income in order to improve the quality of life as well as help poor communes catch up with other areas of the province.

Phong Vu