Implementing the project to build a crematorium for ethnic minorities

The project of investment and funding support for the pilot construction of 2 electric crematoriums for ethnic minorities supported by the Central Government is being promoted in Binh Thuan. The project belongs to the National Target Program on Socio-Economic Development for Ethnic Minorities and Mountainous Areas for the period 2021 - 2030, Phase I: from 2021 to 2025 (approved in Decision No. 1719, dated October 14, 2021 of the Prime Minister) with a total estimated investment of VND 88,539 billion.

To specify the Central's regulations, in early August last year, the Provincial People's Committee issued a Plan on the implementation of the National Target Program on Socio-Economic Development of Ethnic Minorities and Mountainous Areas of Binh Thuan Province for the period 2021 - 2030, Phase I: from 2021 to 2025. Then, it advised the Provincial People's Council to issue resolutions on capital plans to issue related decisions on that basis, assigning the People's Committees of Tuy Phong and Bac Binh districts to implement...

Projected model of crematorium (Illustration photo).

To implement the project, the Provincial People's Committee also directed the Provincial Ethnic Committee to urgently work with relevant departments and localities to review and select locations and scales for the construction of two crematoriums that are suitable for actual needs, ensuring effectiveness. Regarding this issue, the Provincial Ethnic Committee has proactively coordinated with the People's Committees of Tuy Phong and Bac Binh districts to conduct field surveys of a number of planned construction sites and organize two conferences to consult with dignitaries, prestigious people, and representatives of Cham households in the area where the project is being implemented. Accordingly, the majority of people agreed that the investment policy to build an electric crematorium is in line with the progressive trend of society, contributing to raising people's awareness of environmental protection, building a new cultural life, etc. Up to now, Tuy Phong has completed the work of selecting the location, which is the cemetery area in the north of the district in Phu Lac commune, while Bac Binh has just planned the location to be the existing cremation land of the Cham people in Tinh My village, Phan Thanh commune.

However, the project implementation process also encountered some difficulties and obstacles because the investment and funding support for the pilot construction of 2 electric crematoriums for ethnic minorities in Tuy Phong and Bac Binh is a new content, requiring high and complicated technology, but the assigned districts do not have experience in this field. In addition, the customs and practices of the ethnic minorities have many rituals and ceremonies before worshiping, so changing a whole custom and practice from before for the people is a big barrier to implementing the project and it is necessary to have a suitable design selection plan...

Mr. Nguyen Minh Tan - Head of the Provincial Ethnic Minorities Committee said: Currently, the electric crematorium project has not been approved due to problems related to technology selection. Because the Prime Minister's Decision is to support funding for the pilot construction of "Electric Crematorium", while according to consultation from investors who have built and operated crematoriums nationwide (including many countries in the world), most of them are currently using combined technology - that is, controlled by electricity and burned by gas. Because this technology is simple to operate, the equipment is popular on the market, low cost, short cremation time and easy replacement of materials and equipment, minimizing environmental pollution... The above reality leads to the inability to deploy equipment procurement and difficulty in disbursing career capital to implement the project in 2023.

Recently, the leaders of the Provincial People's Committee chaired a meeting to listen to the progress report on the construction of two crematoriums for ethnic minorities in Tuy Phong and Bac Binh districts. Thereby, it is required that relevant departments, branches and localities uphold their responsibilities, identify the construction of crematoriums as necessary as well as show their concern for ethnic minorities. Along with that, coordinate to remove obstacles arising during the implementation process, especially in the preparation, appraisal, approval of documents and capital sources, technology, and operating methods related to the project... In the immediate future, focus on completing the project documents of Tuy Phong district to soon promote the pilot implementation in the province. In addition, it is necessary to strengthen propaganda and mobilize people to agree with the new cremation method, research and propose appropriate support policies for people in the localities in the initial stages when the project comes into operation.

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