Thanh Son focuses on implementing policies for ethnic minorities.

Thanh Son is a mountainous district with many communes belonging to areas II, III, and CT 229. The district has 32 ethnic groups, of which ethnic minorities account for 61.5%. The ethnic minorities still maintain their own distinct cultural characteristics, but there is also cultural exchange among them. The people of the ethnic groups in the district are diligent in labor and production, united in mutual support and compassion, contributing together to building a more developed homeland.

Investing in transportation infrastructure ensures convenient travel for the people.

Comrade Pham Tu, Vice Chairman of the District People's Committee, stated: "Recognizing the importance of programs and projects supporting the people, Thanh Son district has consistently focused on thoroughly implementing and effectively carrying out National Target Programs; especially the socio-economic development program for ethnic minorities and mountainous areas. As a result, the lives of the people have improved significantly, creating an important foundation for the sustainable socio-economic development of the locality."

Thanks to the State's investment and the people's collective contributions, irrigation works, clean water supply, schools, health stations, rural electricity... have been gradually invested in and built. To date, 100% of communes have roads leading to their centers; 99.6% of households have access to the national power grid; and 96.5% or more of households use clean and safe drinking water. 95 infrastructure investment projects in disadvantaged communes and villages (under Program 135) have been put into operation...

Credit and banking activities have developed strongly in both capital mobilization and lending, focusing on socio-economic development programs and production and business investment projects with low interest rates, contributing to economic growth, job creation, and poverty reduction among ethnic minority communities. Healthcare for the people continues to receive attention and focus; the quality of medical examination, treatment, and primary healthcare for the people is gradually improving at both the district and commune levels.

Building cultural centers to serve the daily lives of the people.

The health insurance coverage rate reached 92.53% of the population; of which 92.2% of ethnic minorities were issued health insurance cards. Policies for developing education in ethnic minority and mountainous areas were implemented on a large scale and effectively. School infrastructure was strengthened, with a focus on investing in many sturdy classrooms. Literacy programs achieved Level 2 literacy standards. Many ethnic minority students overcame difficult circumstances and strived to achieve high academic results. Policies for ethnic minority boarding and semi-boarding students were implemented effectively.

From 2021 to the present, over 1,530 students have received support in the form of rice, meals, and housing allowances under Government Decree No. 116/2016/ND-CP on policies supporting students and schools in particularly difficult communes and villages, with a total budget of over 8.3 billion VND. As a result, the annual attendance rate has reached over 97%. The percentage of 15-18 year olds studying in general education or continuing education programs is 73.1%. The high school graduation rate in 2023 reached 100%. Vocational training policies for workers in general, and ethnic minorities in particular, have always been prioritized, with the rate of regularly employed workers reaching 94%. National defense and security in ethnic minority and mountainous areas have remained stable...

It can be affirmed that programs and policies ensuring the rights of ethnic minorities have contributed significantly to the implementation of the local socio-economic development plan. They have helped narrow the gap in living standards and average income between ethnic minority areas and the provincial average, gradually reducing the number of particularly disadvantaged communes and villages; preserving and promoting the beautiful cultural identity of ethnic minorities while eliminating outdated customs and practices; strengthening the grassroots political system; maintaining political security and social order; consolidating and strengthening the great national unity; and enhancing the trust of ethnic minorities in the Party and the State. However, although the infrastructure system has improved, it still does not meet the requirements of socio-economic development. The poverty rate in ethnic minority areas, although reduced, remains high; and the disparity in living standards between lowland and mountainous areas remains significant.

The reasons stem from the district's disadvantaged background, unfavorable natural conditions, large geographical area, and fragmented terrain during the rainy season; unpredictable natural disasters and epidemics; and a high percentage of poor and near-poor households, mainly concentrated in mountainous areas and ethnic minority regions, making sustainable poverty reduction difficult. In addition, the educational level and literacy of some people remain limited; there is still a tendency for people to rely on government investment and not want to escape poverty in order to continue benefiting from poverty reduction mechanisms and policies.

To gradually improve the lives of the people, especially ethnic minorities, and to effectively implement the National Target Program for socio-economic development for ethnic minorities and mountainous regions, Thanh Son district requests that central and provincial agencies continue to issue detailed directives and guidelines on the contents and projects of the National Target Program for socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas for the period 2021-2030. At the same time, it requests financial support for the district in developing the production of certain characteristic products to serve domestic consumption and export needs; and requests that strong organizations, corporations, businesses, and banks continue to provide support and attract investment to the district in terms of development resources during the period 2021-2025.

Phuong Uyen

Source: https://baophutho.vn/thanh-son-tap-trung-thuc-hien-chinh-sach-nguoi-dan-toc-217789.htm