PM launches campaign to eliminate substandard homes
Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính on Saturday launched a campaign aimed at eliminating temporary and ramshackle houses across the country by 2025, in a significant move to improve living conditions for impoverished people.
The hybrid launching ceremony was held in Đà Bắc District in the northern province of Hòa Bình, and was connected online to 63 provinces and centrally-run cities.
Addressing the housing issues facing the poor is part of a great policy of the Party and the State to alleviate poverty and stabilise the lives of the disadvantaged. Between 2000 and 2023, over 1.7 million houses were built or repaired for poor households and people with difficult backgrounds.
In his speech, PM Chính, who is also Chairman of the Central Emulation and Commendation
Council, said that currently, there are still over 315,000 households classified as poor or near-poor who need housing assistance.
He expressed his confidence that the campaign, with a goal to construct or refurbish 170,000 homes by the end of 2025, will garner robust support from society.
The PM called for the mobilisation of resources from the State, society, businesses, and citizens and stressed the need for effective mechanisms and policies and the assurance of quality construction, serving the right beneficiaries and ensuring transparency and efficiency without corruption and waste.
Furthermore, PM Chính recommended the establishment of a fund to eradicate substandard houses across the nation.
At the event, several organisations, businesses and individuals pledged to donate a total of VNĐ336 billion (US$13.42 million), a sum enough to construct 6,720 houses. The first allocation of funds will prioritise 40 provinces with high poverty rates and a substantial number of inadequate homes.
Following the ceremony, PM Chính, along with other Party, State and provincial leaders, visited several families in Đà Bắc District to observe and support the housing improvement efforts underway.
Fulfill six tasks
At a working session with the Standing Board of the Hòa Bình Province's Party Committee later the same day, Prime Minister Chính praised the northern province of Hòa Bình for its socio-economic achievements.
PM Chính asked the provincial authorities to effectively follow the approved master planning scheme, fully tap its distinctive potential, outstanding opportunities, and competitive advantages, and create new development spaces.
To do that, Hòa Bình was advised to effectively pool and use legitimate resources to promote traditional growth drivers and make breakthroughs into new ones; increase investment and regional, domestic and global connectivity; and develop a comprehensive and inclusive strategic infrastructure system, industries that serve processing, manufacturing and the production-supply chain; and enhance the application of sci-tech and innovation.
Focus should be placed on manufacturing and processing, hi-tech, ecological and resort tourism, sports, cultural identity; clean, organic and quality agriculture, he said, adding that it is essential to well prepare for projects and sectors open to investment to welcome investors, especially big and potential ones; and invest in education-training, especially in potential sectors.
The government leader also suggested stepping up administrative reform, improving business environment and accelerating digital transformation to build digital administration, digital society and digital economy.
Agreeing with the province’s proposals, he asked ministries and agencies to work closely with the province to fulfill the six tasks assigned at the beginning of 2023. These tasks include preparing documents for two sites to be recognised as special national relics, and compiling records to nominate the Hòa Bình Culture as a world heritage.