VO Laos to celebrate International Day and National Week for Poverty Eradication from October 17-24. INTRO: Laos to celebrate International Day and National Week for Poverty Eradication from October 17-24. According to Minister to the Government Office and Chairman of the National Leading Committee for Rural Development and Poverty Eradication, Bounheuang Douangphachanh, despite the fall in the poverty rate, too many poor households remain in Laos. STORY: Speaking to local media to mark International Day and National Week for Poverty Eradication in Vientiane on Friday, Minister to the Government Office and Chairman of the National Leading Committee for Rural Development and Poverty Eradication, Bounheuang Douangphachanh, said, the governments poverty reduction strategy was first implemented more than a decade ago. He explained that, Rural development and poverty eradication continue to pose a challenge because of insufficient funding. According to him, We need a minimum of 500 billion kip to fund our work each year, but the state budget doesnt allow for that amount. At present the government can only provide six or seven billion kip to fund poverty alleviation projects each year, which falls far short of the financing required. Another hindrance is that there is also limited money available to provide people with capital to set up a business and boost productivity. Currently, not many people are producing goods for sale and most are still dependent on nature for their livelihood. These are the main reasons why rural development and poverty eradication are not progressing more quickly, Mr Bounheuang said. The government is actively implementing its poverty reduction strategy plan in the hope of achieving fundamental poverty reduction and raising the country out of poverty by 2020. The Poverty Reduction Fund is one of the main contributors to this effort. It finances the development of infrastructure, provides essential goods and services, and helps create jobs. It also funds capacity building initiatives so that people can plan and manage their districts, especially in Laos 47 poorest districts. The governments poverty reduction strategy has been implemented for over a decade. The Lao National Committee for Rural Development and Poverty Eradications plan for 2011 to 2015 aims to reduce the number of poor families to fewer than 10 percent by 2015. The committees latest report shows that this goal is in sight, noting that in 2010 the proportion of poor families was 20.40 percent, but in 2013 has fallen to 10.57 percent. In recognition of International Day and National Week for Poverty Eradication, the government will hold a mini-marathon at Patuxay Park on Saturday morning, as well as a meeting and photo exhibition at the National Culture Hall on Thursday next week. The Prime Ministers Cup charity golf tournament is also being organised at the Km 14 Golf Club in Hadxaifong district on October 26. The government initiated International Day and National Week for Poverty Eradication in 2003, with the occasion observed annually from October 17-24.
Posted on: Fri, 24 Oct 2014 03:19:33 +0000
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