Hanoi launches campaign for the poor

More than VND51 billion (USD2.4 million) was raised at a “Day for the Poor” launch ceremony in Hanoi on October 7.

At the event, Dao Van Binh, Chairman of the Hanoi Fatherland Front Committee and head of the municipal “Fund the Poor”, praised local businesses’ effort to contribute supporting the poor and promoting socio-economic development in the city.

Over the past 12 years, Hanoi has built or repaired nearly 30,000 houses and assisted a large number of poor households. 

In 2011 alone, the fund and other social welfare programmes allocated more than VND200 billion for building or repairing nearly 4,700 houses and providing capital and production materials for 14,000 poor families.

Currently, more than 80,000 poor households and 33,000 others who are near the poverty line need further support to stabilize their lives.

Hanoi is set to reduce the poverty rate to below 2 percent in 2015.