Over VND27.5 trillion for poverty reduction

Accordingly, 10 percent of poor districts, 50 percent of specially disadvantaged communes in coastal and island districts and 30 percent of communes in ethnic minority and mountain districts will escape absolute poverty by 2015.

The program aims to raise the average per capita income of poor households in the country by 1.6 times compared to the late 2011 figure and in mountainous areas by 2.5 times.

 It is expected that the number of poor households will drop by 2 percent annually and the number of poor districts and communes by 4 percent.

Vietnam will continue with its comprehensive poverty reduction policies to improve the living conditions of the poor, in terms of health care, education, culture, water supply, and other basic social services.

By 2015, 60 percent of communes will have cement roads, 100 percent of communal centres will be connected to the power grid and over 90 percent of communes will access an electricity supply for daily use and production. The average income of poor households will increase by 15-20 percent and 10 percent of poor households will escape poverty each year.

The program will be carried out throughout the country from 2012 to 2015 at an estimated cost of VND27,509 billion sourced from the State and local budgets, foreign aid and other sources.