[hepr-vn] EPA: Vietnam Proposed to Readjust Poverty Line

[Vern Weitzel]

Subject: [vnnews-l] EPA: Vietnam Proposed to Readjust Poverty Line
Date: Mon, 21 Jul 2008 23:07:46 -0700 (PDT)
sent to vnnews-l by Stephen Denney <sdenney at OCF.Berkeley.EDU>



  Vietnam News Briefs: Culture & Society: Vietnam Proposed to Readjust
Poverty Line
Vietnam News Briefs (Vietnam) - July 21, 2008
from the VIETNAM NEWS BRIEFS, July 21, 2008 The Vietnamese Ministry of
Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs has recently proposed the prime
minister for approval a plan to readjust the poverty line standard for the
2006-2010 period to match rising prices, the Thoi Bao Kinh Te Viet Nam
newspaper said.

Under the proposal, the national poverty line will be raised to VND300,000
($18.18) and VND390,000 ($23.63)/person/month in rural and urban areas,
respectively.

The new poverty line is based on 2007's CPI of 12.63% and 2008's estimated
CPI of 27.5%, the newspaper said.

If approved, the rate of poor households nationwide will make up 16.5% -
17.5% or between 3.2 million and 3.4 million poor families by the end of
this year.

The data of the GSO showed the country's consumer price index (CPI) rose
26.8% on year in June and the poor are the hardest hit by the price hikes.

The ministry said that from 2009 if the CPI surpasses 10%, it will ask
government to readjust the poverty threshold, a state media said.

The ministry also proposed the government take strong measures to reduce
poverty in 60 districts with the poverty rate of over 50% in a bid to
narrow the gap between the rich and the poor. (VNA July 21, Economy &
Urban July 21, Vietnam Economic Times July 18, VietNamNet Bridge July 19)
Copyright 2008 Vietnam News Briefs
Provided By: Financial Times Information Limited - Asia Africa
Intelligence Wire