Hanoi (VNA) 🎉– The war ended over 40 years ago, but its consequences seem to linger. Across the country, there remain millions of war invalids suffering from physical and mental pain as well as women losing their beloved children and husbands to the war.

Statistics show that there are more than 9.2 million revolution contributors nationwide, accounting for nearly 10 percent of the population. Every year, nearly 30 trillion VND (1.3 billion USD) from the State budget is spent on providing preferential treatment and caring for these people. The preferential policies for them have been increasingly improved, covering most aspects of life, from health care, education and housing to credit.

Ongoing journey to repay revolution contributors

The revised ordinance on preferential treatment for revolution contributors took effect this year. Despite numerous difficulties facing the country amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the National Assembly Standing Committee still issued the ordinance, which features many new points that increase benefits for and expand beneficiary groups. This reflects the Party and State’s special attention to the contributors. On the occasion of this year’s War Invalids and Martyrs Day, President Nguyen Xuan Phuc decided to raise the value of gifts for revolution contributors, war invalids, and relatives of martyrs by 50 percent. According to the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA), most of the families of revolution contributors have had their standard of living equivalent to or higher than the average level of residents in their communities, which is a “sweet fruit” of the implementation of preferential policies for them that the entire political system has strived to secure. Apart from the benefits provided by the Party and State, the “Den on dap nghia” (Gratitude) Fund and the movement calling on all people to care for revolution contributors and their families have attracted great support from the public. In 2020, the Gratitude Fund received donations of more than 2.58 trillion VND, helping to present over 52,000 savings accounts and build or repair 54,000 houses for the contributors and their families. Although war already became a thing of the past, some revolution contributors have yet to be recognised or benefit from preferential policies. To ensure all of them can gain preferential treatment, agencies in charge of labour, invalids and social affairs have promoted the settlement of unresolved dossiers over the last three years. Besides, efforts have also been made to boost the search for, repatriation and identification of martyrs’ remains. Since the beginning of 2021, MoLISA agencies have received 1,544 samples, including 399 samples of martyrs’ remains and 217 others of martyrs’ relatives, and handed over them to specialised units for DNA testing. All these actions demonstrate the gratitude that people nowadays wish to express to the ones falling down for the sake of national independence and freedom.

Caring for revolution contributors amid pandemic

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic’s severe impact on society, authorities at all levels, sectors, and localities are still carrying out activities in acknowledgement of revolution contributors on the occasion of the War Invalids and Martyrs Day (July 27). Leaders of the Party, the State, ministries, and sectors have visited and presented gifts to outstanding contributors. In localities, annual activities like visiting and presenting gifts to revolution contributors and their families, and paying tribute to martyrs at cemeteries have also been organised. MoLISA Minister Dao Ngoc Dung has requested localities nationwide to step up gratitude expressing activities and mobilise social resources for caring for revolution contributors. The pandemic, which has hampered large-scale events to mark this year’s War Invalids and Martyrs Day, should not be cited as the excuse for the absence of care for revolution contributors, he said, noting that all activities must be carried out in an appropriate manner that suits the COVID-19 situation and conditions of each locality. Meeting representatives of revolution contributors nationwide ahead of the 74th War Invalids and Martyrs Day, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh affirmed that caring for the health and material and spiritual life of revolution contributors always receives special attention from and is also an important and constant political task of the Party, State, and entire political system. Aside from new policies issued by the Party and State, contributions by the public have also become an indispensable resource for carrying out support policies and preferential treatment for revolution contributors./.