Quang Nam: Ethnic policies change the face of ethnic minority and mountainous areas

Thanks to the effective implementation of ethnic programs and policies, in recent years, the socio-economic situation of ethnic minority and mountainous areas of Quang Nam province has improved significantly. Economic development and social security indicators in ethnic minority and remote areas have been significantly improved. To realize the Resolution of the Quang Ninh Provincial Party Committee on socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas, not only are ethnic support policies and investments from the State and local authorities being implemented synchronously and effectively... but there are also efforts from the people, especially the role of prestigious people in the community. They are like the "big trees" of the village, devoted to the work of the community every day and taking the lead in emulation movements at the grassroots level for people to follow... In 10 years of formation and development, the border district of Ia H'Drai (Kon Tum) has been converged by many cultural sources, from which many types of rich and diverse folk culture have been formed and developed, bearing the unique characteristics of 8 ethnic groups living together. Participating in the 2nd Gong and Xoang Festival of ethnic minorities in Kon Tum province, the artisans of Ia Dal commune, Ia H'Drai district performed an art program with the theme "Colors of Thai culture" and made a good impression on friends and tourists from near and far. Thanks to the effective implementation of ethnic programs and policies, in recent years, the socio-economic situation of ethnic minority and mountainous areas of Quang Nam province has improved a lot. Economic development and social security indicators in ethnic minority and remote areas have been significantly improved. On the evening of December 14, in Ha Long City, the People's Committee of Quang Ninh Province held a ceremony to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Ha Long Bay being recognized by UNESCO as a World Natural Heritage for the first time (December 17, 1994 - December 17, 2024). In recent years, Quang Nam Province has focused on fully and effectively implementing ethnic programs and policies, helping the province's ethnic minority and mountainous areas to change significantly. In particular, since the implementation of the National Target Program on Socio-Economic Development of Ethnic Minority and Mountainous Areas (National Target Program 1719), it has been considered one of the important levers in narrowing the gap between mountainous and lowland areas. Reporter of the Ethnic and Development Newspaper had an interview with Mr. Ha Ra Dieu, Deputy Head of the Ethnic Committee of Quang Nam province about this issue. On the evening of December 14, the People's Committee of Kon Tum province held the Closing Ceremony of the 5th Kon Tum Culture - Tourism Week and the 2nd Kon Tum Gong and Xoang Festival in 2024. With determination, daring to think, daring to do clean agriculture, Ms. Thi Khui, 40 years old, Mnong ethnic group, in Dong Nai commune, Bu Dang district, Binh Phuoc province, established the Trang Co Bu Lach Organic Cashew Agricultural Cooperative (HTX). The Cooperative has gathered people with the same determination to build a chain of links and consume cashews for local people. General news of the Ethnic and Development Newspaper. The morning news of December 14, there is the following notable information: 2 more national intangible cultural heritages in Binh Dinh. Bringing Oriental medicine into tourism products. Artisans devote their youth to preserving Then heritage. Along with other news in ethnic minority and mountainous areas. To realize the Resolution of the Executive Committee of the Quang Ninh Provincial Party Committee on socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas, not only are the ethnic support policies and investments of the State and local authorities being implemented synchronously and effectively... but there are also efforts from the people, especially the role of prestigious people in the community. They are like the "big trees" of the village, devoted to the work of the community every day and taking the lead in emulation movements at the grassroots level for people to follow... Passing the winding roads around dangerous passes, towering mountains, Quan Ba ​​land (Ha Giang) appears before the eyes of tourists as a unique, colorful picture of terrain, mountains, villages and customs, practices, attractive stops, meeting the needs of exploring the wild, remote lands of tourists from all over. Son Duong district (Tuyen Quang province), is home to 19 ethnic minorities, with rich and diverse cultural characteristics. However, the living conditions of ethnic minorities and mountainous areas are still difficult, especially in terms of infrastructure and income. Faced with this situation, the National Target Programs (NTPs) for socio-economic development have been implemented and promoted effectively, bringing positive changes to the material and spiritual life of the people. On December 14, the Ethnic Minorities Committee of Ca Mau province coordinated with the provincial Boarding School for Ethnic Minorities to organize the Contest "Learning about the provisions of the law on early marriage and consanguineous marriage in 2024". According to the report at the 24th Session of the People's Council of Bac Ninh province (term XIX), Bac Ninh province achieved 17/17 socio-economic targets, with the total product in the area (GRDP) increasing by 6.03% compared to 2023. In particular, trade and service activities developed well, tourism revenue increased by 50%; state budget revenue increased by 13.92%; foreign investment attraction reached over 4.8 billion USD, ranking first in the country.

The highlands of Quang Nam are flourishing day by day. (In the photo is a corner of Prao town, Dong Giang district)

Focus on supporting people

In recent years, many ethnic minority and mountainous areas in Quang Nam province have changed rapidly, especially in remote villages, remote areas, and border areas. Traffic infrastructure, schools, and medical stations have been built synchronously. People's economic life has gradually improved. This is due to the efforts of authorities at all levels and people in effectively implementing ethnic policies.

Mr. Le Quang Trung, Chairman of Phuoc Son District People's Committee, said: The locality is mostly ethnic minority, life is still difficult, so poverty reduction in ethnic minority areas is always a concern. The district has implemented many specific solutions and methods, suitable to the reality, resources and poverty situation in the locality. Thanks to that, hundreds of households have been supported in terms of livelihood, housing, job conversion, thereby rising out of poverty.

From the capital source of the National Target Program (NTPP) for sustainable poverty reduction, the locality has disbursed nearly 10 billion VND out of the total capital allocated in 2024 of 13.5 billion VND to implement 24 projects to support production development for nearly 400 households. At the same time, with more than 5.5 billion VND disbursed to implement Sub-project 1 and Project 3 of the Program, the district has supported 9 community production projects for 108 households, converting jobs for more than 700 households.

For Project 5, the National Target Program for Sustainable Poverty Reduction, the district allocated 13.4 billion VND to eliminate temporary and dilapidated houses for 400 households. In addition, for capital from projects and sub-projects that could not be implemented, the district adjusted to eliminate temporary houses for 456 households, including building 284 new houses and repairing 172 houses.

As one of the poor households in Phuoc Duc commune (Phuoc Son district) receiving housing support, Ms. Ho Thi Nhip (born in 1982, residing in village 2) is still very happy. “My husband passed away early, I alone had to take care of my 2 children's education, life was extremely difficult. Thanks to the support of the State, my children and I are building a new, more solid house. Recently, I was also able to borrow 100 million VND to do business, I am very grateful to all levels”, Ms. Nhip shared.

Ethnic minority people receive livelihood support from resources of national target programs.

In Song Kon commune, Dong Giang district, from the resources of the National Target Program for Socio-Economic Development of Ethnic Minority and Mountainous Areas (National Target Program 1719), the government has supported the settlement of housing, land and job conversion for the people. At the same time, it has promoted livelihood support, developed production according to the value chain; invested in essential infrastructure to serve the production and life of the people...

Ms. Dinh Thi Ngoi, Chairman of Song Kon Commune People's Committee shared: From the resources of the National Target Programs, hundreds of households have been able to change their jobs and build new houses, and have been provided with livestock such as pigs, cows, and buffaloes to develop their livelihoods. It can be said that ethnic programs and policies have had a strong impact, helping poor and near-poor households to have the conditions to develop their economy and promote poverty reduction in the locality.

Comprehensive change in ethnic minority and mountainous areas

Mr. Ha Ra Dieu, Deputy Head of the Ethnic Minorities Committee of Quang Nam province, said that in recent times, policies and guidelines have been effectively implemented and targeted to the right people, contributing to the clear development of the socio-economic situation in ethnic minority and mountainous areas. In particular, the effective implementation of national target programs has helped many localities invest in infrastructure, support housing and livelihoods for people.

From the investment and support resources of the program, the resources of the people have been mobilized, focusing on solving urgent and practical needs in life and production. At the same time, the practical needs of households have been gradually solved, such as arranging and stabilizing their residence, eliminating temporary houses, changing occupations, shifting production structures, and cultivating and raising livestock for households. Thereby, the spiritual and material life of the people has been gradually improved, especially the rate of poverty reduction is getting faster and faster.

Up to now, the infrastructure of mountainous rural areas has changed significantly, especially the infrastructure of rural transport; the infrastructure and equipment of boarding and semi-boarding schools are increasingly spacious, ensuring teaching and learning. The rate of households using clean water and participating in health insurance has reached 100%, the environment and ecology of ethnic minority and mountainous areas are basically guaranteed.

Specifically, from the capital of the National Target Programs, the province has invested in the construction of 313 categories of works of all kinds; including 92 traffic works, 53 school works, 34 domestic water works, 56 community houses and 78 other works. At the same time, it has helped 735 workers change their jobs; supported land for 350 households; supported the removal of temporary houses for 512 households; arranged and stabilized the population for 576 households.

From the resources of the national target program, Quang Nam has eliminated temporary and dilapidated houses for hundreds of poor households in ethnic minority areas.

With the achieved results, it can be affirmed that each investment and support content has a direct impact on promoting the economy, culture, society, and poverty reduction in the ethnic minority areas of the province, contributing to changing the face of the mountainous countryside. The infrastructure has been invested in and built to facilitate travel, medical examination and treatment, and education more than before. The awareness of ethnic minorities has gradually changed in production development, vocational training, career establishment, and building a new rural life.

The national target programs also have a profound impact on people's livelihoods, promoting their self-improvement, thereby leading to a significant decrease in the poverty rate in ethnic minority and mountainous areas in recent times, exceeding the set targets. Specifically, in the period of 2022 - 2023, the poverty reduction rate in ethnic minority areas is 10%, 3 times higher than the set target...

“With the goal of reducing the poverty rate to below 15% by 2030 and increasing the average income per capita of ethnic minority and mountainous people to 40 million VND per year, in the coming time, local authorities and sectors will make more efforts to allocate and disburse the Program's capital to implement projects and sub-projects,” Mr. Ha Ra Dieu added.

Quang Nam: Ethnic minority and mountainous areas flourish from National Target Program 1719

Source: https://baodantoc.vn/quang-nam-chinh-sach-dan-toc-lam-thay-doi-dien-mao-vung-dong-bao-dtts-va-mien-nui-1734191761603.htm