Social development
The poor
New law bans beggars, permits buskers
Thailand’s National Legislative Assembly has approved law that bans street beggars but will allow buskers provided they have a licence. The military-appointed assembly approved the Begging Control Act by 178 votes to two with seven abstentions. The law forbids all begging and sets out punishments for anyone who ...
Lao Govt, UN review development progress
The Lao government is keen to cooperate with its development partners to fulfil the priorities of the 8th National Socio-Economic Development Plan for 2016-20 in view of its implications for graduation from Least Developed Country status. To ensure that the government achieves its development goals, the ...
Vietnam leaders applaud WB support of local development
Vietnam’s Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung expressed appreciation for the WB’s co-operation in Vietnam’s socio-economic development, especially in poverty reduction and sustainable development as he met with World Bank (WB) Group President, Jim Yong Kim, in Hanoi on 23 February. He also spoke highly of the ...
Access to clean water in rural areas hits 50%
Cambodia passed a key Millennium Development Goal milestone last year with half of rural areas now having access to clean drinking water, according to a Ministry of Rural Development annual report released on 23 February. The report also touted improvements to sanitation in rural areas, which ...
Laos aims for further strides in poverty reduction
Laos will further mobilise all of its untapped potential and step up cooperation with all stakeholders, backed by support from friendly countries, to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The fight against poverty was the main focus of the Millennium Development Goals and continues to remain ...
Flood victims to get extra rice
The United Nations World Food Programme will support flood-affected people in Chin State with 500 tonnes of rice, as they continue to struggle after landslides and flood waters ravaged swathes of land in the country’s poorest state last year. More than 9 million people were affected ...
Laos, EU seek more effective poverty reduction
Laos and its development partner the European Union have sought ways to strengthen their cooperation on the implementation of focal work to ensure more effective results from projects in Laos. Keep reading ...
Lao congress sets course for exit from LDC status
Ensuring that Laos graduates from Least Developed Country (LDC) status in five years’ time has been the focus of discussion at the 10th Party Congress, a Party leader has said. Party Politburo member and Deputy Prime Minister Mr Somsavat Lengsavad highlighted this fact when speaking to ...
Vietnam province cancels fireworks shows, asks sponsors to donate to poor families
Dak Lak Province in the Central Highlands has canceled two of the three fireworks shows planned for the upcoming Lunar New Year celebration, urging potential sponsors to give that money to poor people instead. A source from the province’s culture and tourism department told Tuoi Tre ...
Thai PM urges middle class to save day
Upper- and middle income people need to come out and vote if they want to stop parties pitching populist policies to the poor from regaining office, says Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha. They should decide what they want at the polls or someone else would do that for ...
