New poverty lines drafted for 2011-2015 period

Accordingly, in the rural areas, poor households are those that have an average income of less than VND 350,000/head/month or less than VND 4,200,000/head/year.

For urban areas, the figure will be less than VND 450,000/head/month or less than 5,400,000/head/year.

With the new criteria, the country’s standardized poverty line is two times higher than the current levels (VND 200,000/head/month for rural areas; and VND 260,000/head/month for urban areas).

One of the most outstanding features of the draft is that when the consumer price index is above 10%, the Government would consider to adjust  the standardized poverty line in accordance with actualities.

Besides, localities will also need to issue their own criteria of poverty line based on their own real socio-economic conditions, says the draft document.

Now, the country’s poor households account for 13% of the population. If the new criteria are approved the figure will rise to some 20%, said the MoLISA.

It is reported that, right after the draft document is adopted, the Government will outline a national target program on poverty reduction in the period of 2011-2015.

By Hải Minh