HCM City is “poorer” than Hanoi
LookAtVietnam - Per capita income in HCM City, Vietnam’s largest city, is
higher than the capital city of Hanoi but its poor rate is higher.
The survey of poverty in Hanoi and HCM City in 2009, sponsored by the UNDP,reveals a surprise results: HCM City is “poorer” than Hanoi.
The survey rates the poverty in the two cities not only based on income and
spending, but also the people’s approach to social welfares, education and
health services, housing, social activities and security.
Based on the national poverty standards, which is mainly measured by income, HCM
City’s poverty rate is lower than Hanoi’s, with 0.31 percent and 1.27 percent
respectively. According to the survey, Hanoi’s per capita income is VND2.321
million/year and it is VND2.445 million in HCM City.
However, the poverty rates based on other standards of HCM City are higher than
those of Hanoi. For instance, HCM City’s ratio of illiteracy, ratio of people
without health insurance, the number of people who live in housing space of less
than 7 square meters are higher than Hanoi’s.
The new methodology of poverty measurement shows that in both cities, rural
mirgrants and immigrants have a more difficult approach to social welfares than
urban dwellers and those who are not immigrants.
This methodology also proves that income is not the most important element to
measure poverty, but social welfares and people’s participation in social
activities.
The survey reveals that the rate of poor people and immigrants who don’t
participate in social activities is higher than well-off people and those who
are not immigrants. The most popular reasons for this situation are: these
people are not allowed to participate, they don’t have family record books, and
they think that these activities do not pertain to them.
The survey shows that inequality in having access to social services exists in
the two biggest cities in Vietnam, especially between immigrants and those who
have family record books.
The survey also points out that poverty eradication policies based on economic
standards (income and spending) are insufficient. Vietnam should pay more
attention to improve the social welfare system, housing, education and health
services, etc. for the people, to facilitate the people, especially immigrants
and the poor, to take part in social activities and social organizations.
The survey, carried out by the two cities, is the first of its kind, which
approached to poverty in a multi-faceted way and the first source of information
about poverty and the life of immigrants in Hanoi and HCM City.
It was implemented in October and November 2009.
After the survey results are made public, the survey organizing board will
invite prestigious experts to analyze the relations between poverty situation
and hunger eradication and poverty eradication policies to make suggestions to
the two cities in amending their policies.
Thuy Chung
No comments:
Post a Comment