Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc expressed his hope that war invalids will remain bright examples in moving forwards while meeting with 500 outstanding heavily wounded war veterans in Hanoi on July 25.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc greets war invalids at the gathering in Hanoi on July 25 

The 500 veterans at the event, which celebrated the 72nd War Invalids and Martyrs’ Day (July 27), represented 1.2 million war invalids, including more than 12,000 with serious injuries, across Vietnam. They lost at least 81 percent of their work capability due to war wounds, and most of them now in their 70s or 80s.

All of the invalids have made exceptional efforts to overcome difficulties to support their families and continue contributing to the society, becoming bright examples in their communities.

Addressing the event, PM Phuc said over the past nearly a century, under the Party’s leadership, the Vietnamese people have weathered countless hardships to undauntedly struggle for national independence, freedom and reunification.

In those fights, millions of people laid down their lives for the sake of the Fatherland, and millions of martyrs’ relatives never had a chance to reunite with their beloved. Returning from wars, many people also sustained life-long wounds or were affected by toxic chemicals.

On behalf of the Party and State leaders, he expressed his deepest gratitude to the veteran revolutionaries, the Vietnamese Heroic Mothers, the Heroes of the People’s Armed Forces, war invalids and other revolution contributors nationwide.

The Party, State and people of Vietnam have always paid attention to the care of the contributors, the PM affirmed, noting that policies giving preferential treatment to them have received growing attention. Policies and laws in this regard have also been increasingly perfected, providing better support for more contributors.

At present, there are more than 9.2 million revolution contributors benefiting from preferential policies, accounting for nearly 10 percent of the country’s population. Each year, more than 32 trillion VND (1.37 billion USD) from the State budget is spent on the policies for revolution contributors and their families. 

The Government leader lauded efforts to move forwards by war invalids, martyrs’ relatives and other revolution contributors, with the 500 invalids present at the gathering being role models, describing them as admirable examples. He also asked them to make unceasing efforts to help with the development of their hometowns and the country.

Highly valuing activities to repay revolution contributors by authorities, sectors agencies and organisations at all levels, he also pointed out that some invalids and contributors still face difficulties in their life, remains of many martyrs haven’t been found or identified while several contributors haven’t fully benefited from preferential policies due to different reasons.

PM Phuc requested ministries, sectors and localities to thoroughly grasp the Party’s viewpoints and the state’s policies and laws on the care for revolution contributors, increase communications to raise public awareness of this issue, diversify resources for implementing this work, and continue overhauling relevant legal documents.

They also need to boost reforming administrative procedures for verifying revolution contributors, create favourable conditions for them to benefit from preferential policies, and step up IT application in policy implementation, he added.