Circular No. 21/2012/TT-BLDTBXH guides the procedures for annual investigation and review of poor and near-poor households.

CIRCULAR

Guidelines for the investigation and review of poor households and near-poor households annually

households near poverty annually

Pursuant to Decree No. 186/2007/NĐ-CP dated December 25, 2007 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Labor - War Invalids and Social Affairs;

Pursuant to Decision No. 09/2011/QD-TTg dated January 30, 2011 of the Prime Minister on issuing the criteria for poor households and near-poor households applicable for the period 2011-2015;

Considering the proposal of the Director of the Social Assistance Administration;

The Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs guides the procedures for investigating and reviewing poor households and near-poor households annually as follows:

PART I
GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. These guidelines direct the procedures for investigating and reviewing to identify the target groups of poor households and near-poor households annually from the grassroots level (village/community, residential group; commune/district/town) serving as the basis for implementing social welfare policies, evaluating the annual poverty reduction results of localities and nationwide.

Article 2. Criteria, subjects, scope, methods, and requirements for investigation and review

1. Criteria: implemented according to the criteria stipulated in Decision No. 09/2011/QD-TTg dated January 30, 2011 of the Prime Minister on issuing the criteria for poor households and near-poor households applicable for the period 2011-2015.

2. Subjects, scope: all household families throughout the country.

3. Methods: combining quick identification methods, quantitative surveys, and participatory evaluation methods.

4. Requirements: ensuring accuracy, democracy, transparency, fairness, and participation of the people.

Chapter II
PROCEDURE FOR INVESTIGATION AND REVIEW OF POOR HOUSEHOLDS AND NEAR-POOR HOUSEHOLDS AT THE COMMUNE LEVEL NEAR POOR HOUSEHOLDS AT THE COMMUNE LEVEL

Article 3. Preparation work for investigation and review

1. Organize propaganda about the purpose, significance, and requirements of the investigation and review of poor and near-poor households through various media channels.

2. Develop plans, budgets, and organize forces for the investigation and review.

3. Train investigators on the procedures and tools.

Article 4. Directing and organizing the investigation and review of poor households and near-poor households

1. Identify and list households within the scope of investigation and review:

a) Identifying households at risk of falling into poverty or near-poverty:

- The commune steering committee organizes meetings with community associations, village chiefs, and residential group leaders based on the socio-economic situation of the locality in the year to identify households experiencing economic decline or encountering incidents that may fall into poverty or near-poverty, and newly arrived households during the year to include them in the investigation and review scope;

- Utilize rapid identification tools regarding household assets (production and living conditions) to determine households that are certainly not poor or near-poor (Annex 1):

+ Score the household based on the quantity of assets and the points assigned to each type of asset (Annex 3);

+ If the household's score is equal to or greater than the specified score (Annex 4 - Point 1), it is determined that this household does not need further investigation;

+ If the household's score is less than the specified score (Annex 4 - Point 1), include the household in the list of those potentially falling into near-poverty or poverty.

Result: identified and listed preliminary households at risk of falling into poverty or near-poverty.

b) Identifying households with potential to escape poverty or near-poverty:

Investigators guide households to assess their potential to escape poverty or near-poverty based on factors indicating poverty risk (Annex 2).

- In cases where the number of factors exceeds or equals the specified number (Annex 4 - Point 2), the household is considered certain not to have escaped poverty and does not require further investigation;

- In cases where the number of factors is less than the specified number (Annex 4 - Point 2), include the household in the list of those potentially escaping poverty or near-poverty.

Result: identified and listed preliminary households with potential to escape poverty or near-poverty.

c) Compile the complete list of households with potential to escape poverty or near-poverty and households at risk of falling into poverty or near-poverty into the list of households within the income investigation scope.

2. Conduct household income investigation (Annex 5 - Form B):

a) Points to note:

- Only consider household income over the past 12 months;

- Exclude social assistance payments from the state budget from household income (such as social aid under Decree No. 67/2007/ND-CP dated April 13, 2007 of the Government on social assistance policies for beneficiaries and Decree No. 13/2010/ND-CP dated February 27, 2010 of the Government amending and supplementing some articles of Decree No. 67/2007/ND-CP dated April 13, 2007 of the Government on social assistance policies for beneficiaries; electricity subsidies; emergency hardship allowances...).

b) Preliminary investigation and review results of household income:

- Households in the list at risk of falling into poverty or near-poverty (1a) if their income is lower than or equal to the specified criteria will be included in the preliminary list for organizing the assessment of poor and near-poor households.

- Households in the list with potential to escape poverty or near-poverty (1b) if their income is higher than the specified criteria will be included in the preliminary list for organizing the assessment of households escaping poverty or near-poverty.

c) Publicly post the list of households at risk of falling into poverty or near-poverty; households with potential to escape poverty or near-poverty according to current criteria at the commune People's Committee office, community houses, villages, and on mass media for five days. In cases where households complain of not being investigated and reviewed for income, the commune steering committee must conduct supplementary investigations and reviews (Form B). If the household income is below the specified criteria, it will be included in the preliminary list of poor and near-poor households for organizing the assessment.

3. Organizing the assessment at the village/community, residential group level

a) The Chairperson of the Meeting is the Village Chief/Community Leader; participants include representatives from the Party Committee, Commune People's Committee, poverty reduction officers, branch secretaries, heads of community associations, households listed for assessment; representatives from households in the village/community, residential group (the meeting must have more than 50% of household representatives present);

b) The assessment follows the principle of democracy, transparency, objectivity, and must take a vote on each household (by raising hands or secret ballot); the voting result must have more than 50% of attendees agreeing to be included in the proposed list: households escaping poverty or near-poverty; new poor or near-poor households.

c) The results of the assessment must be recorded in the minutes; the minutes and the list of poor households and near-poor households after the assessment shall be made in two copies, signed by the chairperson and the secretary of the meeting: one copy to be kept at the village/community group; one copy to be sent to the Poverty Reduction Steering Committee at the commune level (Annex 6).

4. Organize the collection of characteristics of poor households and near-poor households (Annex 7 - Form C).

5. Classify poor households that are social policy targets and poor households with members who are social welfare beneficiaries (Annex 9, Annex 10).

Chapter III
IMPLEMENTATION

Article 5. Responsibilities of local levels

1. At the commune level: The commune-level poverty reduction steering committee directly directs the implementation of surveys and reviews of poor and near-poor households on its territory with specific tasks as follows:

a) Popularize and disseminate the objectives and requirements of the survey and review of poor and near-poor households;

b) Organize the survey and review teams for poor and near-poor households and organize democratic and public assessments within the community (village/community group);

c) Propose the Chairman of the People's Committee at the district level to approve the results of the survey and review of poor and near-poor households on its territory; submit to the Chairman of the People's Committee at the commune level for recognition of new poor and near-poor households;

d) Update information about poor and near-poor households as a basis for implementing social welfare policies and evaluating the annual poverty reduction target outcomes.

2. At the district level (Department of Labor - Invalids and Social Affairs):

a) Develop and submit to the Chairman of the People's Committee at the district level the plan for conducting surveys, reviews, and identification of poor and near-poor households on its territory;

b) Organize training for those directly involved in the surveys and reviews (conducted centrally according to administrative units for districts with few communes, or by commune clusters if the district has many communes);

c) Coordinate with relevant agencies to direct the organization of surveys and reviews of poor and near-poor households on its territory;

d) Organize the verification of the survey and review results of communes submitted; in cases where the review results are deemed inconsistent with the actual situation of the locality, organize re-surveys before submitting for approval by the competent authority;

đ) Submit to the Chairman of the People's Committee at the district level for approval of the list of households escaping poverty and near-poverty; new poor and near-poor households on the district territory; notify the People's Committees at the commune level for recognition and report to the provincial-level poverty reduction steering committee;

e) Update information about poor and near-poor households into the management software as a basis for implementing social welfare policies and evaluating the annual poverty reduction target outcomes.

3. At the provincial level (Department of Labor - Invalids and Social Affairs):

a) Develop and submit to the Chairman of the People's Committee at the provincial level the plan for organizing surveys and reviews; unify the forms for implementation on the territory;

b) Organize training in survey and review techniques for poor and near-poor households for the district level;

c) Coordinate with relevant agencies to direct the organization of surveys and reviews of poor and near-poor households on its territory;

d) Inspect and re-survey the results of surveys and reviews;

đ) Submit to the Chairman of the People's Committee at the provincial level for approval of the annual survey and review results of poor and near-poor households on the territory; report to the Ministry of Labor - Invalids and Social Affairs for consolidation and recognition;

e) Update the survey and review results of poor and near-poor households into the management software as a basis for implementing social welfare policies and evaluating the annual poverty reduction target outcomes.

Article 6. The survey and review of poor and near-poor households must be conducted at the time of October 1st each year. By the latest date of December 15th each year, the Chairman of the People's Committee at the provincial level must report the survey and review results of poor and near-poor households on the territory to the Ministry of Labor - Invalids and Social Affairs for consolidation.

Article 7. During the process of implementation, localities may apply criteria for assessing assets to suit the specific economic and social conditions on their territory.

Article 8. The budget for organizing the annual survey and review of poor and near-poor households and updating the database of poor and near-poor households on the territory shall be allocated from the local budget according to the current financial regulations.

Article 9. Effectiveness

1. This Circular takes effect from November 20, 2012, replacing Circular No. 04/2007/TT-LĐTBXH dated February 28, 2007, issued by the Ministry of Labor - Invalids and Social Affairs guiding the annual household poverty review procedures.

2. In the course of implementation, if there are difficulties, please reflect them to the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs for study, amendment, and supplementation to be appropriate./.