The event will be co-organized by the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union Central Committee, the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA) and the Thai Nguyen provincial People’s Committee.

The MoLISA on March 27 held a press conference to launch a propaganda campaign and a writing contest on martyrs and war invalids. A special programme will be broadcast live on July 27 from Hanoi, central Quang Tri province, HCM City and northern Thai Nguyen province. Various programmes on martyrs and war invalids will be spotlighted by the mass media, including Radio the Voice of Vietnam. Conferences will also be held to honour individuals and organizations that have made great contributions to the implementation of social policies and the “paying gratitude” movement.

MoLISA Deputy Minister Bui Hong Linh said that there is a plan afoot to raise VND200 billion for the “paying gratitude” fund, including VND10 billion from central agencies and VND190 billion from localities. Eighty-five percent of social beneficiary families are expected to achieve the average local living standard by July 2007.