More to qualify for aid with redefinition of poverty line, By Thu Van, December 15, 2009, Viet Nam News: “More than 6 million disadvantaged people in Viet Nam will be able to receive the Government’s financial support if the proposed poverty line is applied in 2011. This move means the State coffers will have to subsidise basic living costs for 16 million people who live in extremely poor conditions. With the current poverty standard, there are 10 million residents living below this line. According to the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs’ recent proposal, the new poverty standard includes those living in rural areas who earn VND350,000 (US$19) or less a month,or those living in urban areas who earn VND450,000 ($25) or less a month. The existing poverty line, which was created in 2005, is VND200,000 per person per month in the countryside and VND260,000 for those living in urban areas…”
Poverty-related issues in the news, from the Institute for Research on Poverty