Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister NguyenXuan Phuc expressed his hope that war invalids will remain bright examples inmoving forwards while meeting with 500 outstanding heavily wounded war veteransin Hanoi on July 25.

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

All of the invalids have made exceptionalefforts to overcome difficulties to support their families and continuecontributing to the society, becoming bright examples in their communities.

Addressing the event, PM Phuc said over the pastnearly a century, under the Party’s leadership, the Vietnamese people haveweathered countless hardships to undauntedly struggle for nationalindependence, freedom and reunification.

In those fights, millions of people laid downtheir lives for the sake of the Fatherland, and millions of martyrs’ relativesnever had a chance to reunite with their beloved. Returning from wars, manypeople also sustained life-long wounds or were affected by toxic chemicals.

On behalf of the Party and State leaders, heexpressed his deepest gratitude to the veteran revolutionaries, the VietnameseHeroic Mothers, the Heroes of the People’s Armed Forces, war invalids and otherrevolution contributors nationwide.

The Party, State and people of Vietnam havealways paid attention to the care of the contributors, the PM affirmed, notingthat policies giving preferential treatment to them have received growingattention. Policies and laws in this regard have also been increasinglyperfected, providing better support for more contributors.

At present, there are more than 9.2 millionrevolution contributors benefiting from preferential policies, accounting fornearly 10 percent of the country’s population. Each year, more than 32 trillionVND (1.37 billion USD) from the State budget is spent on the policies forrevolution contributors and their families. 

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

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

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

They also need to boost reforming administrativeprocedures for verifying revolution contributors, create favourable conditionsfor them to benefit from preferential policies, and step up IT application inpolicy implementation, he added. -VNA