A significant number of individuals, totaling 124,347, have become eligible to receive social welfare payments through ATM cards, according to reports. This initiative aims to streamline welfare payments, making it more convenient for recipients. Active efforts are underway to accelerate the uptake of this system.
Officials from Thái Giang, Thái Thụy district, are promoting the benefits of receiving monthly welfare benefits through ATM cards to local residents. They are intensifying their outreach to encourage wider acceptance, heightening awareness about the advantages of cashless payments.
To support this initiative, various local departments and units are enhancing their promotional campaigns, which include assisting individuals with the account-opening process. Specific measures are being taken to monitor and enforce the cashless disbursement strategies on the ground.
These developments coincide with the broader push for modernization within the welfare system. Former officials and civil leaders have called for policies to assist vulnerable populations during this transition.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of National Defense has received petitions from constituents, particularly from Khánh Hòa, advocating for improved housing for military personnel. This appeal, forwarded by the Citizens Reception Board following their letter dated January 14, 2025, highlights the need for adequate living conditions to allow soldiers to focus on their duties.
The Ministry responded to these concerns by outlining its adherence to multiple laws effective from 2023, which include the Housing Law and the Land Law amendments intended to facilitate housing developments for military members.
According to the Ministry of National Defense, they have tasked the General Department of Logistics and Technical Engineering to evaluate the demand for public housing, taking stock of societal housing needs based on the military’s geographical deployments. This includes examining the needs of military units stationed across various provinces, including Khánh Hòa, with the aim of ensuring adequate housing for this community.
A proposal to compile this data for the provincial housing development plan is set to be sent to the Khánh Hòa People's Committee shortly, with the expectation of completing this by the first quarter of 2025.
Further, the Ministry is actively investing in public housing projects slated for completion between 2021 and 2025. This aligns with their long-term goal to meet around 80% of the housing needs of military personnel by 2030, as outlined by the Central Military Commission's Resolution on military logistics.
Concurrently, residents from Thái Nguyên province have urged the Ministry to develop specific plans to implement effective housing policies for the armed forces. They propose introducing financial assistance or housing allowances linked to military rank, particularly for retired personnel who have not yet benefitted from any housing policies.
The Ministry clarified its current policies around housing allowances as per existing military legislation; nonetheless, it acknowledged these matters are governed by broader governmental financial policies. Changes to housing allowance regulations must be approved by the central government, which holds exclusive authority over fiscal and budgetary matters.
Going forward, the Ministry commits to monitoring these issues closely and will propose necessary legislative changes to the Government to address the needs of its personnel.