National Target Program 1719 contributes to sustainable poverty reduction in Khmer ethnic minority areas in Giang Thanh district (Kien Giang)

Giang Thanh is a border district with many difficulties in Kien Giang province, with 3 main ethnic groups living there: Kinh, Khmer, Hoa. Of which, the Khmer people account for more than 21%. In recent years, poverty reduction for the Khmer people in the district has achieved many successes thanks to the National Target Program on Socio-Economic Development of Ethnic Minorities and Mountainous Areas, Phase I 2021-2025 (National Target Program 1719). These steps have helped the Khmer people have better living conditions and a sustainable future. On the afternoon of October 30, the Central Working Group led by Deputy Head of the Central Committee for Mass Mobilization Trieu Tai Vinh had a working session on the 5-year review of the implementation of Conclusion No. 65-KL/TW, dated October 30, 2019 of the Politburo on continuing to implement Resolution No. 24-NQ/TW, dated March 13, 2003 of the Central Executive Committee (Term IX) on ethnic work in the new situation in Con Cuong district (Nghe An). Attending the Working Group, on the side of the Committee for Ethnic Minorities (UBDT), there was Deputy Minister, Deputy Head Y Thong. On the side of Nghe An province, there were Deputy Head of the Provincial Party Committee's Mass Mobilization Commission Phan Thanh Doai, Deputy Head of the Ethnic Affairs Commission Luong Van Khanh and members of the Delegation. On October 30, in Hanoi, General Secretary To Lam, Head of the Central Steering Committee on Anti-Corruption, Wastefulness and Negativity, chaired a meeting of the Standing Committee of the Central Steering Committee on Anti-Corruption, Wastefulness and Negativity to discuss and give opinions on the situation and results of handling corruption and negativity cases and incidents since the 26th Session to date and the policy of handling a number of cases and incidents under the supervision and direction of the Steering Committee. On the afternoon of October 30, local time, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attended the opening ceremony of the FPT Group's Middle East headquarters located in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and witnessed the handover ceremony of the memorandum of understanding on cooperation between FPT and THIQAH Company. The summary news of the Ethnic Affairs and Development Newspaper, on October 30, had the following notable information: After storm No. 3, Quang Ninh continues to face the risk of major forest fires. Flood season in the Muong Lay highlands. Unique rice offering ceremony of the San Diu people in Dong Hy. Along with other news in ethnic minority and mountainous areas. On the afternoon of October 30, the Central Working Group led by Deputy Head of the Central Committee for Mass Mobilization Trieu Tai Vinh had a working session on the 5-year review of the implementation of Conclusion No. 65-KL/TW, dated October 30, 2019 of the Politburo on continuing to implement Resolution No. 24-NQ/TW, dated March 13, 2003 of the Central Executive Committee (Term IX) on ethnic work in the new situation in Con Cuong district (Nghe An). Attending the Working Group, on the side of the Ethnic Minorities Committee (UBDT), there was Deputy Minister, Vice Chairman Y Thong. On the side of Nghe An province, there were Deputy Head of the Provincial Party Committee's Mass Mobilization Commission Phan Thanh Doai, Deputy Head of the Ethnic Affairs Commission Luong Van Khanh and members of the Delegation. Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long has just signed Decision No. 1280/QD-TTg dated October 28, 2024 promulgating the Plan to implement Conclusion No. 86-KL/TW dated July 10, 2024 of the Secretariat on the development of Vietnamese Traditional Medicine and the Vietnam Association of Oriental Medicine in the new period (Plan). Forest protection, forest fire prevention and fighting (PCCCR) have always been identified as regular and important tasks of Party committees at all levels, the political system and each citizen. To effectively carry out the above tasks, in recent times, the Forest Protection Department of Tuyen Quang province has always proactively implemented many solutions to improve the effectiveness of forest management, protection, and forest fire prevention and fighting. The summary news of the Ethnic and Development Newspaper, on October 29, has the following notable information: Quang Binh suffered serious damage due to floods. "Touch Sa Pa - Touch the clouds in 2024". Khmer ethnic female artisan revives craft villages. Along with other current news in ethnic minority and mountainous areas. On October 30, information from the People's Committee of Quang Nam province said that the province has just issued a plan to organize the International Ngoc Linh Ginseng (Vietnamese Ginseng) Festival in Quang Nam province in 2025. On the morning of October 30, in the city. Phan Rang - Thap Cham, the Steering Committee of the Campaign "Vietnamese people prioritize using Vietnamese goods" in Ninh Thuan province organized the Forum "Listening to the voices of businesses and distributors of Vietnamese goods", in 2024. Ms. Nguyen Thi Xuan Cuong, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Thuan Nam district (Ninh Thuan province) said that in 2024, the capital source of the National Target Program for Socio-Economic Development in Ethnic Minorities and Mountainous Areas for the period 2021-2030 (National Target Program 1719) supported the locality with 9,319 million VND to implement projects and sub-projects in the district. With the capital transferred from 2022 and 2023 to 2024, the total investment capital for the Program is more than 25,957 million VND. With the goal of applying information technology to develop a smart tourism ecosystem, the tourism industry of Quang Ngai province has proactively applied many digital technologies to develop sustainable tourism. Tourism has always been identified as a key economic sector of Lao Cai province; however, due to the impact of storm No. 3, this economic sector is currently facing many difficulties. In that situation, all levels, sectors and enterprises in Lao Cai province have had many positive and flexible solutions to restore tourism after floods.

Giang Thanh Border Guard Station mobilizes donors to examine and provide free medicine to poor Khmer households in the border area.

Strong transformation

In the period of 2019-2024, from capital sources of programs and projects, Giang Thanh district has mobilized more than 473 billion VND to build transport infrastructure, irrigation and supply electricity to areas with a large Khmer ethnic population. In the National Target Program 1719 alone, Giang Thanh district was assigned to implement 9 projects, with a total capital plan allocated from 2022 to 2024 of over 22 billion VND. Thanks to that, up to now, more than 98% of ethnic minority households have accessed the national grid, the inter-commune and inter-hamlet traffic system has been concreted, significantly improving people's living conditions. The new routes not only help people move conveniently, but also create conditions for transporting agricultural products and developing the economy.

In parallel with infrastructure investment, the component projects of the National Target Program also focus on practical poverty reduction activities. Over the past 5 years, the National Target Program 1719 has directly supported 60 Khmer households to change their occupations, provided clean water for 102 households, and built houses for 34 households, with a budget of nearly 2.5 billion VND. Credit policies, vocational training and learning support have also been implemented, helping to improve people's qualifications and skills. The rate of Khmer poor households has decreased significantly from 310 households in 2019 to 51 households in 2023, thereby affirming the effectiveness of sustainable poverty reduction policies.

Giang Thanh district also focuses on improving the quality of education and health care for the Khmer people. The school system has been newly built and fully equipped, helping to increase the rate of Khmer children aged 6-14 going to school to 98.27% in the 2023-2024 school year. 100% of commune health stations in the district meet national standards, more than 5,800 Khmer people are granted free health insurance cards. These policies have contributed to significantly improving the quality of life and increasing access to education and health care for ethnic minorities.

The district also focused on directing the transformation of crop and livestock structures, planning production areas, and replicating effective production models. Processing and service establishments were called for investment in rural areas and areas with large ethnic minority populations, creating more jobs, increasing incomes, and opening up new economic development opportunities for people, especially the Khmer.

Currently, the district has 70 industrial and handicraft production establishments, with an annual production value of over 30 billion VND. In the past 5 years, the total production value in the area with a large number of ethnic minorities in particular and the whole district in general has increased by an average of 7-9% annually. Thereby, Giang Thanh district has formed a solid foundation for sustainable poverty reduction, affirming the correctness and effectiveness of the National Target Program 1719 in socio-economic development.

According to Mr. Nguyen Thanh Ha, Standing Deputy Secretary of Giang Thanh District Party Committee, the results achieved in the economic, cultural and social development of the district and the development of ethnic minorities, affirm the correctness of the Party and State's policies towards ethnic minorities, the attention and leadership of Party committees at all levels, the government and the propaganda and mobilization of the Front and mass organizations, contributing to improving the material and spiritual life of the people, including ethnic minorities. At the same time, maintaining political stability, social order and safety, implementing well the solidarity relationship between the government and people on both sides of the border, contributing to protecting the peaceful and friendly border between Vietnam and Cambodia.

Many collectives and individuals were awarded on the occasion of the 4th Congress of Ethnic Minorities of Giang Thanh District, 2024

Towards a sustainable future

To continue promoting comprehensive development for the Khmer ethnic people, Giang Thanh district aims to increase the total annual production value by 8% by 2029, and the poverty rate will decrease by an average of 4% per year. At the same time, the district aims to improve infrastructure so that 100% of inter-commune roads and more than 80% of inter-hamlet roads are asphalted or concreted; over 95% of households use clean water and over 99% of households use national grid electricity. In addition, the district also strives to achieve a trained labor rate of over 68%, improving production capacity for ethnic minorities, especially the Khmer.

"To achieve these goals, the district will synchronously implement solutions for socio-economic development, focusing on developing agricultural production and small-scale industry. The district will focus on supporting Khmer people to develop high-tech agricultural models and expand the production of high-quality goods to meet market demand and increase the value of agricultural products. Along with that, the district will encourage investment in processing and service industries in areas with a large ethnic minority population, helping to create jobs and stable income for people," affirmed Mr. Nguyen Thanh Ha, Standing Deputy Secretary of Giang Thanh District Party Committee.

According to Mr. Ha, in terms of infrastructure, the district will continue to invest in bridge and road projects, electricity and water for disadvantaged areas. In addition, it will promote the improvement of telecommunications and Internet services to better serve the learning and information needs of ethnic minorities. The district has also identified that education and human resource training will continue to be a development focus of Giang Thanh district. Vocational training and education programs will focus on developing high-tech agricultural production skills and appropriate service industries, helping people improve their qualifications and labor capacity.

As a border district adjacent to Cambodia, supporting and caring for people in border areas is one of the important tasks of Giang Thanh Border Guard Station.

In addition, Giang Thanh district will also invest in preserving Khmer culture through traditional festival activities, promoting the unique cultural values ​​of the Khmer people. Preserving and promoting cultural values ​​will contribute to preserving national identity, creating a highlight for cultural tourism, thereby contributing to economic development and bringing benefits to people in the region.

In particular, to ensure sustainable and stable development, the district will improve the efficiency of the political system, focusing on the role of ethnic minority cadres. At the same time, the district will step up propaganda and education on national defense and security, build solidarity, and strengthen people's trust in the local government.

It can be seen that the achievements thanks to the support from the National Target Program 1719 have affirmed the right direction in socio-economic development for the Khmer people in Giang Thanh district.

With the goals and solutions until 2029, the district will continue to develop sustainably, ensuring both economic growth and preserving national cultural values. This will be the foundation for the Khmer people in Giang Thanh to develop and contribute to the common prosperity of the entire district.

Ethnic minority communities in Kien Giang province unite, determined to integrate and develop

Source: https://baodantoc.vn/chuong-trinh-mtqg-1719-gop-phan-giam-ngheo-ben-vung-vung-dong-bao-khmer-huyen-giang-thanh-kien-giang-1730271841301.htm