The event is part of a series organized to celebrate the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, October 17th, and Vietnam’s Day for the poor.
An important decision regarding sustainable poverty reduction was recently approved by Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dzung. The decision covers a shift in the measurement of poverty from a unilateral to a multilateral approach.
The new poverty level has recently been reviewed. It incorporates both income as well as access to five basic social services ; healthcare, education, housing, clean water, hygiene and information.
"A government program to review overlapping and ineffective poverty reduction policies from past years is being sped up with the help of all ministers and departments, and under the supervision of the ministry of labor, invalids and social affairs. We will eliminate improper policies, especially grants, while promoting policies for near-poverty households and those that have recently escaped poverty", said Pham Thi Hai Chuyen, Minister of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs.
Sustainable development requires sustainable poverty reduction. Each poor household faces different circumstances. A single policy with the same treatment for all poor households such as grants and charity gifts has proven ineffective in encouraging these households to work their way out of poverty.
