Over years, the National Employment Fund has helped provide work for thousands of members of Khanh Hoa Association for the Blind to raise their income, overcome challenges and thrive...
Over years, the National Employment Fund has helped provide work for thousands of members of Khanh Hoa Association for the Blind to raise their income, overcome challenges and thrive.
Assistance from support loans
Nguyen Ha Anh (Vinh Nguyen Ward, Nha Trang City) suffering from visual impairments from early infancy, has overcome disability and earned a stable income. In 2004, he got a loan of VND2 million from the National Employment Fund and went to Ninh Hoa Town to buy "đót" plants to make brooms. Then he has registered for learning massage therapy and got a loan of VND5 million from the National Employment Fund to open a massage therapy business on Da Tuong Street, Phuoc Long Ward, Nha Trang City.
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Nguyen Ha Anh has paid off the loans and got another loan worth VND15 million to upgrade equipment for his facility. His business has created work with an income of VND6-8 million/ person/ month for 8 people, including 6 with visual impairments. He has offered free accommodation and meals to most of his employees together with vocational training for 10 others with visual impairments. Most of his trainees have opened their own businesses. He said, “the National Employment Fund has helped me overcome difficulties. Apart from the blind’s massage therapy business, I also run a business in brooms and toothpicks made by the blind. I earn an income of VND30-50 million a month.”
Visually impaired Nguyen Tuan, Phuoc Tien Ward, Nha Trang City has got a VND15 million loan to open a blind’s massage therapy business. His business has developed and he has opened another business creating work with an income of VND5-7 million/ month/person for approximately 30 people.
Nguyen Anh Tuan, a member of Nha Trang City Association for the Blind, has also got a loan from the National Employment Fund to open Happy Massage Therapy Business, creating work with a stable income for 20 blind massage therapists.
In Van Ninh District, 116 blind people have had access to the National Employment Fund to expand household business. Tran Van Dung, Van Gia Town, has received a loan of VND20 million to start a massage therapy business, employing 3 blind therapists; Phan Ngoc Hieu, Van Gia Town, got a loan of VND18 million to open a breakfast shop and earn a stable income.
More funding is needed
According to Nguyen Ha Anh, the loan from the National Employment Fund is of great support for the blind to overcome barriers in life and move forward. However, at present, the loan amount from this fund is limited to 20 million/loan at the maximum. Therefore, it is essential to increase funding and loan amounts to expand eligibility.
The Provincial Association of the Blind has 1,038 members. Since 1992, the association has only been allocated more than VND632 million by the Central Vietnam Association for the Blind. The Association has ensured that everyone can access the capital. The highest loan rate is VND20 million, much lower than that for poor households. A recent survey shows that there is a high need for loans among members of the Provincial Association of the Blind. Therefore, it is essential to support the funding to effectively assist the blind in developing their business and overcoming difficulties, improving their lives and welfare dependency, said Le Van Thang, Chairman of the Provincial Association of the Blind.
According to the leader of the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs, over the years, loans from the National Employment Fund have helped many people with disabilities, especially the blind, to open businesses in massage therapy, bamboo toothpicks, brooms and incense, which have proved profitable. However, loan amounts are quite low so it is difficult for many people to grow business. The Department will report the issue to the Provincial People's Committee and suggest the Social Policy Bank of the province and localities would review and add more resources to expand the Provincial Blind Association members’ eligibility to the funding resources.
Since 1992, with a capital of more than VND632 million, the Provincial Blind Association has provided loans with a total amount of nearly VND7 billion for 1,552 people, ensuring the assistance goes to the eligible and those in need; and the loan payment are on schedule with no overdue debts. Especially, the capital has created jobs with stable income for hundreds of members, helping reduce the poverty rate from 40% to only 8.86% of total members.
V.G
Translated by N.T
