In the second session, XII term, the Vietnam National Assembly spent two days discussing the socio-economic situation and development orientation. Representatives expressed their concern about the quality of economic growth, poverty reduction, administrative reform, and especially the escalating goods price seriously affecting people’s lives.
The Minister of Finance Vu Van Ninh answered all pressing questions of representatives and constituents. He said that apart from irrigation fee exemption, the government will exempt fees on national security and flood and storm prevention for farmers in the coming time.
Many representatives argued that farmers have yet to benefit from the rapid economic growth. On the contrary, their lives have become more difficult due to soaring consumer goods prices. Ms Nguyen Thi Nga from Hai Duong Province asked the government to give further explanation on whether or not, and how, the living conditions of the majority of people will be improved. She affirmed that, with the current escalating goods prices, standards of living are still low.
"I believe the salaries of representatives sitting here are not so low as to be affected by the increasing goods prices, and many people also rarely go to market. Therefore, perhaps we cannot accurately assess the impact of rising goods price," Nga commented.
Mr Le Van Cuong from Thanh Hoa Province stated that farmers in some provinces earn very little money per day. They can only earn profit of between VND40,000 and VND50,000 for one rod of rice, without natural disasters or epidemics. In the event of a natural disaster, such as the last storm No.5, they earn nothing. Meanwhile, they have to pay some 30 kinds of fees each year. Many rural workers have left their hometowns to go to urban areas in the north or the south to search for a living. Only the elderly, women and children are left at hometowns.
After affirming the impact of the rising consumer price index (CPI) on the majority of people, and analysing subjective and objective reasons as well as the management of the government, the Minister of Finance affirmed that the government will take strict measures to improve the living conditions of local people, especially the poor, in the coming time.
"For workers, civil servants and the retired, the state will speed up the implementation of salary adjustment. As for farmers, the government has been trying to implement useful measures to reduce fees." The government has announced the removal of 340 kinds of fees, which are not included in the legal list of fees issued by the Standing Committee of the National Assembly. Localities which issued regulations on unusual fees will be requested to remove them," said Vu Van Ninh.
The Ministry of Finance promised the National Assembly that it will continue checking fees and charges in the category to suggest authorities amend or remove them, or exempt farmers.
Another urgent matter discussed at the meeting was poverty reduction, and support for economic development in rural and mountainous areas. The Minister of Finance said, “The financial support from the state budget for key national programmes, programme 134 and 135 in 2007 and 2008, will be increased 20 to 27 per cent. The government has also approved the increase of financial aid for other programmes to ensure that poor areas will be able to access capital to do business, improving their living standards. Loans have also been approved for job creation, for poor pupils and students and other programs in difficult areas.”
M.C
Vietnamese
