VIENTIANE, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) -- The Lao government was aiming to lift 3,200 families above the poverty line in 2020, and if achieved, it meant that only 4.9 percent or 60,000 families in the country would still be classified as undeveloped.
Local daily Vientiane Times quoted an article in Lao daily Kao Today as reporting on Monday that a government report delivered at the most recent National Assembly session discussed the target.
The plan indicates that 220 villages will remain below the poverty line, while the government will declare 100 villages as models of development.
The government will create 18 more townships, establish permanent settlements and secure jobs in 163 villages, and stop unregulated migration.
Under the plan, Nong district in Savannakhet province (some 410 km east of the Lao capital Vientiane) and Xone district in Huaphan province (some 310 km northeast of the Lao capital Vientiane) will graduate from poverty in 2020, while 21 districts will likely continue to be classified as poor.
According to the report, the government invested 112 billion Lao kip (over 12 million U.S. dollars) to fulfill last year's poverty reduction plan for the implementation of 659 projects. These involved road construction and repairs, small irrigation system development; construction of schools, dispensaries and latrines, and training in agriculture and animal husbandry.
In addition, 137 billion Lao kip (over 15 million U.S. dollars) was allocated as loans to provide communities with financing.
Highlighting achievements made over nine months of last year, the government said 112 villages, or 56 percent of the target, and 2,209 families, or 47.5 percent of the target, succeeded in their development efforts.
