Directive No. 1752/CT-TTg on organizing a nationwide comprehensive survey of poor households to serve social welfare policies for the period 2011-2015.

DIRECTIVE

On organizing the national census of poor households to serve social welfare policies for the period 2011-2015

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After five years (2006-2010) of implementing economic and social development programs and poverty reduction programs and policies, the national poverty rate (as defined by Decision No. 170/2005/QD-TTg dated July 8, 2005 of the Prime Minister) has decreased from 20% in 2006 to approximately 9.45% in 2010; the rural landscape, especially mountainous rural areas, difficult regions, ethnic minority areas... have seen significant positive changes, with the people's living standards clearly improved.

However, due to the loose organization and management of poverty surveys at some localities and grassroots levels, many poor households were overlooked, and some non-poor households were listed in village and commune lists, thereby somewhat limiting the effectiveness of poverty reduction programs and policies.

The review and accurate determination of poor households and poverty rates at each locality and grassroots level are important bases for formulating poverty reduction and economic and social development policies for each year and each phase of each locality and nationwide, aiming to ensure that economic growth always goes hand in hand with social progress and equity, improving and enhancing the people's living standards, ensuring social security, particularly for those who have rendered meritorious service to the revolution, the elderly, orphaned children, persons with disabilities, the poor...

In order to accurately determine the number of poor households and poverty rates at each locality and nationwide, serving as a basis for effectively building and implementing economic development and social welfare policies at both local and national levels, the Prime Minister requests all Ministries, agencies equivalent to Ministries, agencies under the Government, People's Committees of provinces and centrally governed cities to implement the national census of poor households across the country with specific contents as follows:

1. Survey criteria:

a) Poverty standard applied for the period 2011-2015 as follows:

- Rural area: Households with an average monthly income of VND 400,000 per person (VND 4,800,000 per person per year) or less are considered poor households.

- Urban area: Households with an average monthly income of VND 500,000 per person (VND 6,000,000 per person per year) or less are considered poor households.

b) Near-poverty standard applied for the period 2011-2015 as follows:

- Rural area: Households with an average monthly income ranging from VND 401,000 to VND 520,000 per person are considered near-poor households.

- Urban area: Households with an average monthly income ranging from VND 501,000 to VND 650,000 per person are considered near-poor households.

2. Survey subjects and scope:

All household residents throughout the country.

3. Survey time frame:

From September 21, 2010 to November 30, 2010.

4. Survey requirements:

The survey of poor and near-poor households must be conducted directly at the village and commune levels, involving each household, ensuring transparency and democracy, with participation from all levels, sectors, and the public, following the guidelines of the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, to accurately identify the target groups without duplication or omission, reflecting the true living conditions of the local population.

Upon completion of the census, each village and commune must accurately determine the number of poor and near-poor households, establish a single list of poor and near-poor households for monitoring and management; each district and province must determine the poverty rate of their respective areas; simultaneously report to the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs to compile the national statistics on poor and near-poor households as a basis for building and implementing social welfare policies during the period 2011-2015.

To ensure timely and accurate implementation of poverty reduction and social welfare policies, promoting the self-reliance of the poor, each locality must organize a review of poor and near-poor households on their territory annually on October 1st.

5. Specific tasks of Ministries, sectors, and localities:

a) Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs: Lead and coordinate with the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Ministry of Finance, and relevant ministries and sectors to develop plans, budgets, methods, tools, procedures for the survey, organize training to guide localities in implementation; supervise the survey process in localities to achieve the set goals and requirements. Guide localities on reporting forms and compiling survey results on poor and near-poor households nationwide. Guide the annual review procedure for poor and near-poor households for localities to implement; guide the establishment of a unified database and software for managing poor and near-poor households nationwide.

b) Ministry of Planning and Investment directs the General Statistics Office to coordinate with the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs to direct localities to properly conduct the census of poor households; while awaiting official survey results, forecast the poverty and near-poverty rates according to new standards for localities, serving as a basis for developing poverty reduction and social welfare plans for the 2011 area. Announce the national and local poverty and near-poverty rates annually, serving as a basis for planning and implementing social welfare policies.

c) Ministry of Finance leads and coordinates with the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs to develop the budget for the census of poor and near-poor households, propose support levels for localities to submit to the Prime Minister for approval to implement.

d) Ministry of Information and Communications, Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Vietnam Television, Voice of Vietnam, and other mass media organizations should intensify propaganda to raise public awareness about the importance and significance of the national census of poor households, promote a sense of ownership, and ensure the successful implementation of the census.

đ) Relevant ministries and sectors shall, based on the poverty and near-poverty standards applicable for the period 2011-2015, proactively build poverty reduction and social welfare policies within their respective fields, issue or submit to competent authorities for issuance to implement.

Provincial People's Committees, centrally governed city People's Committees:

- Direct the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs to coordinate with the General Statistics Office and relevant agencies to develop plans, budgets, and organizational schemes for conducting surveys on poor and near-poor households within their jurisdiction, submit them for approval by the provincial People's Committee; organize training sessions for district and commune-level surveyors; direct and supervise the survey of poor and near-poor households at the grassroots level.

- Direct the districts, counties, towns directly under the city, and cities directly under the central government to organize surveys on the current status of poor households to ensure transparency, democracy, participation from all levels and sectors, including villagers, and prevent bureaucratic practices and inaccurate reflection of poverty conditions in the locality.

- Upon completion of the survey, compile and report the results of the survey on poor and near-poor households within their jurisdiction according to the required format and time frame to the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs for consolidation and reporting to the Government.

- Annually, direct the organization of reviews of poor and near-poor households within their jurisdiction, compile and report the review results to the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs for consolidation and reporting to the Government.

- Direct the development of databases and management software for poor and near-poor households within their jurisdiction in accordance with guidelines issued by the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs.

The People's Committee of communes and wards must retain all files related to poor and near-poor households based on the comprehensive survey results as well as annual review results.

6. Request the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee and its member organizations such as the Vietnam General Confederation of Trade Unions, the Vietnam Women's Union, the Vietnam Farmers' Union, the Vietnam Veterans Association, the Communist Youth Union Central Committee, and social organizations to cooperate with ministries, ministerial-level agencies, governmental agencies, provincial People's Committees directly under the central government in promoting and mobilizing the public and members to actively participate in and closely monitor the nationwide organization of surveys on poor households, particularly at the community, village, and commune levels.

7. Ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies, heads of governmental agencies, Chairmen of provincial People's Committees directly under the central government, and heads of relevant units and organizations are responsible for implementing the assigned contents.

8. Entrust the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, which serves as the standing body of the Steering Committee for the implementation of the Government's Poverty Reduction Programs, with the responsibility of assisting the Government and the Prime Minister in monitoring, urging, inspecting, and annually reporting to the Prime Minister on the implementation of this Directive./.