NA passes resolution on national target programs for 2016-2020

National Assembly deputies on November 12 approved a draft resolution on investment policy for national target programs for 2016-2020 with 88.26 percent of votes in favour.

The list of national target programs for 2016-2020 comprises of a program on new-style rural area building and a program on sustainable poverty reduction.

The national target program on new-style rural area building aims to have half of communes nationwide meet all the criteria by 2020 and all communes fulfilling at least five criteria.

New-style rural area construction, one of the two national target programs passed by the NA. Photo: dantri.com.vn

Initiated by the Vietnamese Government in 2010, the program sets 19 criteria on socio-economic development, politics and defence, aiming to boost rural development.

The list of criteria also covers the development of infrastructure, the improvement of production capacities, environmental protection and the promotion of cultural values.

Under the resolution, total minimum investment for the national target program on new-style rural area building is VND 193.1 trillion (USD 8.7 billion), of which VND 63.1 trillion (USD 2.8 billion) will be sourced from the central budget and the rest is to come from the local coffer.

Meanwhile, the national target program on sustainable poverty reduction for 2016-2020 aims to see an average drop of 1.0-1.5 percent in the household poverty rate and 4 percent annually in impoverished localities.

The program will give priority to poor districts and disadvantaged communes in coastal, island, mountainous and border areas.

The program will receive at least VND 46.1 trillion (USD 2.1 billion) of investment, of which the State budget is to provide VND 41.4 trillion (USD 1.9 billion).

During the implementation process, the Government is required to seek more financial support for the programs and mobilize other sources of capital to accelerate the work, the resolution said.

At the same time, the Government will continue reviewing 21 target programs as specified in the NA Standing Committee’s Resolution 1023/NQ-UBTVQH13 dated August 28, 2015 with a view to erasing targets and tasks that overlap those stipulated in the two national target programs.

The same day, the legislators debated the draft Law on Child Protection, Care and Education (revised) and the draft Referendum Law.