(VOVworld) – An array of activities has been held throughout Vietnam to celebrate the 66^th anniversary of War Invalids and Martyrs Day, July 27. The Party and State have paid special attention to the well-being of war invalids and relatives of martyrs. The policy of paying tribute to those who have rendered service to the nation has been comprehensive.

Tran Dang Khoa, Deputy Secretary of VOV's Party Committee, and VOV staff presented gifts to sick soldiers and invalids at Phu Tho sanatorium

 

On July 27^th, 1947, President Ho Chi Minh sent a letter to the Organizing Board for national War Invalids and Martyrs Day to express his gratitude to invalids, sick soldiers, martyrs and their relatives. Since then, the Party and State have adopted many policies to commemorate fallen soldiers and to repay those who have rendered service to the nation and the revolution. The National Assembly Standing Committee issued a revised ordinance on incentives for revolutionary contributors in July, 2012. The Government then issued a decree to instruct the implementation of the ordinance on incentives for revolutionary contributors in April, 2013. The decree added more categories of people eligible for the incentive policy and incentive mechanisms. The decree created opportunities for many more invalids and sick soldiers to enjoy a better life. Hoang Cong Thai is Director of the Department of People Rendering Service to the Nation of the Ministry of Invalids and Social Affairs. “The decree consists of some new regulations. First, people who were arrested and detained during the resistance wars now receive a monthly allowance. Second, contributors now may take a convalescent vacation once every 2 years instead of every 5 years. The level of spending for each convalescent vacation was raised to 1.5 to 2.2 million VND.  Third, Heroic Vietnamese mothers and people exposed to toxic chemicals get an additional allowance. Fourth, more relatives of contributors receive health insurance benefits.

Singer Viet Hoan sings for the sick soldiers and invalids

On April 26, 2013, the Prime Minister approved regulations on housing for revolutionary contributors which will enable thousands of families of revolutionary contributors to have new houses. Mr. Thai again: “The Government has reserved nearly 120 million USD for this program. We’ll mobilize social resources to build 71,000 houses for revolutionary contributors. Taking care of national contributors is the responsibility of the entire society.”

Party and State policies for people who have rendered service to the nation create a legal corridor for sectors and the community to implement compensation activities. In recent years, various movements have been launched such as building charity houses, raising funds to repay national contributors, and forming support groups for invalids. The tribute fund has collected 120 million USD to build 400,000 houses. 1.4 million out of 8.8 million national contributors currently receive a monthly allowance, and many more receive regular assistance in some form.

Thu Hang