VietNamNet Bridge – A multi-dimensional approach covering all aspects of life besides income is needed to tackle poverty, Do Manh Hung, deputy chairman of the National Assembly Social Affairs Committee, tells Tin Tuc (News).

Poverty reduction process in Viet Nam has been reported with positive results recently but still unsustainable. What are the problems?

Poverty reduction is always an important policy of the Party and the State. It is the target, requirement and motivation of socioeconomic development. It ensures social welfare and social fairness.

We have gained positive achievements, which are recognised by the people both domestically and internationally.

However, according to my observations, problems still exist.

Firstly, the policy system, which is at the stage of completion, is unsynchronous and overlapping. The policies are being built top down, which failed to mobilise the participation of the community.

Secondly, the financial resource is insufficient.

Thirdly, the implementation is scattered and overlapped.

Fourthly, the social sources are yet to meet the potential.

Lastly, poverty reduction has not been sustainable; therefore, the rate of people relapsing into poverty soon after escaping it and the rate of growth in poverty in ethnic areas are still high.

What are the solutions for the problems?

In many areas, poor people have certain amount of financial sources and certain measures to escape from poverty. This restricts them from bringing their potential of creativeness into play as well as desire to escape from poverty.

Besides, local authorities have not paid appropriate attention to reduce poverty.

As a result, in the coming time, poverty reduction must have focus on how to make it sustainable and, more specifically, apply new multi-dimensional poverty measurement to ensure sustainability.

At the same time, we should mobilise all sources and measures to reduce the poverty rate in ethnic minority areas,

Do you think the application of new multi-dimensional poverty measurement will increase the rate of poor households?

I think the application is definitely feasible.

Previously, we applied the single-dimensional poverty measurement, or the poverty line, which was only based on people's income.

However, in fact, our implementation on poverty reduction was already a multi-dimensional measure, with various supports in education, healthcare, housing, water supply, legal issues and information.

We have proposed to the National Assembly that poverty reduction must be comprehensive in a way that it is not only the problem of income, employment and social welfare but should also cover necessary demands of life such as healthcare, education, housing and so on.

According to our initial survey, there will be localities that will have higher rate of poverty when we apply the multi-dimensional measurement.

However, we need to apply the multi-dimensional measurement to ensure sustainable poverty reduction.

What are your comments on the preferential credit funds for the poor, instead of non-refundable support?

That policy is indeed effective.

So far, the credit source has supported more than 10 million households and 2.4 million are actually out of poverty.

I think the policy should still be the focus in the coming years.

Besides supporting the poor directly, it also helps avoid the poor relying passively on the government. When they ask for loan, they will have to think about how to use it effectively.

VNS/VNN