Removing difficulties in implementing the National Target Program on Socio-Economic Development for Ethnic Minorities and Mountainous Areas

The national target program for socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas supports many disadvantaged households in Phu Cuong commune, Tan Lac district to develop their family economy and escape poverty.

In the period of 2021 - 2025, the total central capital invested and supported the National Target Program on Socio-Economic Development of Ethnic Minorities and Mountainous Areas in the province is more than 2.3 trillion VND. Of which, the investment capital is over 1.4 trillion VND; the public capital is 967 billion VND.

According to Decision No. 861/QD-TTg dated June 4, 2021 of the Prime Minister approving the list of communes in Region III, Region II, Region I in the ethnic minority and mountainous areas in the period of 2021 - 2025, Hoa Binh province has 59 communes in Region III. By the end of 2024, the total number of extremely difficult communes recognized as having completed the goal of building new rural areas and escaping the status of extremely difficult communes is 16 communes, accounting for 55.17% according to the target assigned by the Prime Minister (16/29 communes). Up to now, there are 43 extremely difficult communes in the province according to Decision No. 861/QD-TTg. In the period of 2021 - 2024, the average poverty rate in communes in ethnic minority and mountainous areas will decrease by 3.16%; The average poverty rate in especially disadvantaged communes decreased by 6.24% (exceeding the target assigned by the Central and the province).

According to the assessment, the program is integrated from many policies, with a comprehensive investment perspective, large scale with many projects, sub-projects, different contents, objects, and areas of enjoyment. Therefore, the implementation encounters certain difficulties.

For the project on sustainable agricultural and forestry production development, promoting the potential and strengths of regions to produce goods according to the value chain (Project 3). The allocated capital has contents that exceed actual needs. The mechanism for implementing special-use forest protection contracts in communes in region II and region III when implemented has overlapping areas, some areas are not eligible for payment. The capital is mainly focused on Sub-project 2, however, the project to support production development according to the value chain is still slow to implement, facing difficulties because in some communes there are no enterprises or cooperatives to implement the linkage, if there are, the level and capacity to implement the project of some units are limited.

For the project of investing in essential infrastructure serving production and life of ethnic minority and mountainous areas and public service units in the ethnic sector (Project 4). The number of project lists is large but the total investment is small. Some districts have to adjust the project list name and total investment because the land area used is occupied by forest land, special-use forests, rice fields... Therefore, the completion of investment preparation procedures to start construction of projects is slow.

For the project of developing education - training, improving the quality of human resources (Project 5). Implementing Sub-project 3, developing vocational education and creating jobs, after reviewing, there are no more subjects or subjects that overlap with other target programs; there is no consensus on the regulations on beneficiaries for the District Vocational Education - Continuing Education Center for investment, repair and purchase of equipment.

For the Investment Project for the Development of Ethnic Minorities with Very Few People and Ethnic Minorities with Many Difficulties (Project 9), such as the content of the Sub-project supporting seedlings, farming techniques, transferring science and technology, preserving traditional crafts... there are no guidelines on the use of capital for ethnic minority households, and identifying beneficiaries.

For the Project on communication, propaganda and mobilization in ethnic minority and mountainous areas. Checking, monitoring and evaluating the organization and implementation of the program (Project 10). Sub-project 2, the basic requirements for support points for ethnic minorities to apply information technology according to Circular No. 03/2023/TT-BTTTT, dated May 30, 2023 of the Minister of Information and Communications are very difficult for localities to implement.

Mobilizing other legal resources to carry out tasks together with state budget capital is still inadequate because private enterprises are mainly small and have low competitiveness; difficulties in prioritizing investment due to the great demand for investment in infrastructure works in communes and hamlets with special difficulties; many contents need investment associated with completing the criteria for building new rural areas.

In the period of 2026 - 2030, the total capital proposed by Hoa Binh province to implement the program is about 2,035 billion VND (development investment capital of over 1,185 billion VND, public expenditure of over 982 billion VND). The levels, departments and branches propose a number of contents: Supplementing the percentage of beneficiaries of the content of supporting the development of production linked to the value chain are ethnic minority households with good economic conditions and good business under the National Target Program on Socio-Economic Development of Ethnic Minorities and Mountainous Areas according to Decision No. 1719/QD-TTg of the Prime Minister, to encourage the participation of good business households and support poor and near-poor households in project implementation, promoting more effective project implementation. It is recommended to pay attention to expanding the target group supported for value chain production linkage projects and community projects, including households in rural areas, with priority given to policy households, poor households, and near-poor households. Focus on building more comprehensive and long-term support mechanisms and policies to enhance the capacity and adaptability of ethnic minorities such as: creating local jobs, increasing income, continuing to invest in rural transport infrastructure, intra-field roads, etc. so that ethnic minorities in disadvantaged communes can escape poverty sustainably.

Enhance the access of ethnic minorities to quality health and nutrition care services for mothers and children, contributing to the implementation of the socio-economic development goals of ethnic minority and mountainous areas. It is proposed to stipulate that provinces should base on the capital plan assigned for the entire period to develop criteria for allocating capital to districts (in the future, communes under the merger policy), and give full authority to decide on the use of capital to the district level (in the future, commune level) from selecting the list, approving the policy, and implementing the project. The provincial level only guides, inspects, and evaluates the use of capital and the implementation of projects invested by departments and branches. Thus, the implementation of the project will be closer to reality, speeding up the project implementation progress, quickly disbursing investment capital, and bringing about higher capital use efficiency.

Viet Lam

Commend and honor outstanding prestigious people in ethnic minority areas

Quach Xuan Toan

Head of Ethnic and Religious Affairs Department of Luong Son district

To effectively implement the National Target Program on Socio-Economic Development of Ethnic Minority and Mountainous Areas, in the coming time, it is necessary to strengthen the coordination of departments, branches, units, People's Committees of communes and towns. Raise awareness and responsibility of the entire political system and people about the importance of the program. Continue to grasp information and the situation of ethnic minority areas in the district; strengthen propaganda of ethnic programs, projects and policies issued by the Party and State. Promote the role of prestigious people. Regularly visit prestigious people according to regulations, grasp the thoughts of ethnic minorities, strengthen the building and consolidation of the great national unity bloc, fight against all manifestations of localism, causing division, factionalism, and disunity among ethnic groups. Commend and honor exemplary prestigious people in ethnic minority areas. Inspect, supervise and evaluate the organization and implementation of the program. Disburse development investment capital and allocated career capital in accordance with prescribed procedures, order and time.

Strengthening capacity building training for grassroots staff

Nguyen Xuan Thang

Deputy Head of Department of Ethnic and Religious Affairs of Hoa Binh City

In the past time, the implementation of the National Target Program on Socio-Economic Development for Ethnic Minorities and Mountainous Areas for the 2021-2025 period in Hoa Binh City has faced many limitations, due to the overlapping system of guiding documents, strict investment procedures and conditions. The management apparatus of the Department of Ethnic Minorities and Religions needs to be focused on and improved. The advisory work of a number of departments, offices, units and People's Committees of wards and communes in implementing the program has not been really drastic; the performance of some members of the City Steering Committee is not high, not close, and has not actively helped wards and communes to remove difficulties and obstacles in implementing the program. The team of cadres and civil servants participating in the implementation of the program of the city and some communes has not been given attention and arranged reasonably to meet the requirements of the tasks in advising on the implementation of the program; Commune-level civil servants concurrently hold many positions, affecting the consultation, implementation and organization of the program.

The commune level still faces difficulties and confusion in prioritizing infrastructure investment in communes and hamlets in particularly difficult areas. Meanwhile, many investment contents must be associated with the completion of new rural construction criteria. Therefore, the city continues to strengthen information, propaganda and mobilization work in the direction of innovating the methods and methods of propagating the Party's guidelines and the State's policies on the program, in order to raise awareness of both the political system and the people, so that people are deeply aware of their role as subjects in implementing the programs, and have a sense of self-awareness, initiative and enthusiasm to participate.

Strengthen the inspection, supervision and evaluation of the results of the implementation of projects under the program, urge to accelerate the implementation progress, promptly resolve difficulties and obstacles at the grassroots level and disburse capital plans to ensure requirements. Supplement and perfect the system of mechanisms and policies of the Central Government in accordance with the actual conditions of the locality. Strengthen the work of decentralization, giving management and implementation rights to the grassroots level in accordance with the conditions of each locality, combined with guidance, inspection and supervision to ensure investment and support efficiency. Strengthen training to improve the capacity of cadres at all levels to implement ethnic policies and programs, especially cadres at the grassroots level.

Facilitate the implementation of programs and projects

Far from Knowledge

Chairman of Tien Phong Commune People's Committee, Da Bac District

During the implementation of the National Target Program for Socio-Economic Development of Ethnic Minorities and Mountainous Areas at the commune level, the consensus and unity of villages, hamlets and people in project implementation, especially the counterpart resources of the people, created favorable conditions for enterprises to construct works. Investors and contractors have carried out steps according to regulations, investment and construction works ensure quality and progress. Through propaganda and mobilization, people have well implemented the counterpart items of the project, donated land and assets on land to implement the works.

In the coming time, all levels, departments and branches need to actively mobilize companies and enterprises to support materials to support villages and hamlets in building auxiliary works. Promote the supervisory role of the Fatherland Front and socio-political organizations in implementing projects and works. Increase capital turnover time, reduce the capital turnover rate for subjects participating in community development models.

Source: https://baohoabinh.com.vn/12/200105/Thao-go-kho-khan-thuc-hien-Chuong-trinh-muc-tieu-quoc-gia-phat-trien-kinh-te-xa-hoi-vung-dong-bao-dan-toc-thieu-so-va-mien-nui.htm