In recent years, programs, policies and projects for ethnic minority and mountainous areas, especially the National Target Program (NTP) on socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas for the period 2021-2030, have been fully, promptly and effectively implemented, closely following the actual needs of the people. Thereby, not only contributing to improving the lives and increasing incomes of ethnic minorities across the province but also changing the face of the region and promoting socio-economic development in localities.

Leaders of Luong Son commune, Yen Lap district deploy ethnic policies on agriculture to ethnic minorities in the area.

New look

From one of the 11 particularly difficult communes of Yen Lap district, with 80% of the population being Muong ethnic people, up to now, Luong Son commune has taken on a new look with essential infrastructure gradually invested; the rural economy has shifted in a positive direction; people's lives have been increasingly improved.

In the 2020-2024 period, the locality has benefited from more than 56 billion VND through the National Target Program and policies and projects for ethnic minority and mountainous areas on agriculture, essential infrastructure development, etc. Of which, more than 19km of inter-regional, inter-commune and inter-village roads were invested in and completed early by the Party and State, creating favorable conditions for people to travel and trade goods, contributing to promoting socio-economic development in the area.

Comrade Nguyen Van Xuan - Chairman of the People's Committee of Luong Son commune said: "Along with the attention of the Party and the State through the National Target Programs for ethnic minority mountainous areas and from local socialized resources, the economic, cultural, social development and Party building targets according to the Resolution of the 29th Commune Party Congress for the 2020 - 2025 term have basically ensured progress. Up to now, Luong Son has completed 53/57 targets, reaching 17/19 criteria for building new rural areas. In particular, agricultural production has grown quite well; the average economic growth rate in 3 years reached 12.7%/year; the average income per capita in the commune in 2023, reached 55.7 million VND/person/year... This is an important stepping stone for us to strive to complete 19/19 criteria in the roadmap to reach the new rural area by the end of this year".

Yen Lap mountainous district currently has 80% of its population being ethnic minorities with 30 ethnic groups living together, of which the Muong ethnic group accounts for over 74% and the Dao ethnic group accounts for 5.1%. In recent years, with the attention of the Party and the State and under the regular leadership and direction of the Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial People's Committee, Yen Lap district has effectively implemented the National Target Program on socio-economic development of ethnic minority and mountainous areas along with many programs, projects, and policies on housing, credit loans, social security, education, health care, vocational training, poverty reduction, etc. with a total investment capital of more than 422 billion VND in the period of 2021-2025. Of which, over 372 billion VND comes from the central budget, the rest is taken from the local budget.

Comrade Dinh Hai Nam - Vice Chairman of Yen Lap District People's Committee affirmed: "Resources from ethnic programs and policies implemented in the district are truly an important lever to promote socio-economic development in ethnic minority areas, contributing to improving the material and spiritual life of ethnic minority areas. Up to now, Luong Son, Xuan Vien and Dong Thinh communes have basically met the criteria to exit the extremely disadvantaged communes; other localities such as My Lung, My Luong, Xuan An and Phuc Khanh have also made remarkable progress, contributing positively to the economic restructuring and new rural construction in the district. In the coming time, the district will continue to allocate the remaining funds to effectively implement programs, projects and support policies of the Central and local governments for ethnic minority areas".

It can be seen that the programs, policies and projects for ethnic minority and mountainous areas according to the Party and State's policies, which have been comprehensively implemented in the province, have contributed significantly to changing the appearance of hamlets, villages and mountainous districts by focusing on investing in building rural infrastructure; supporting vocational training, creating jobs; preserving intangible cultural values. In addition, they have contributed significantly to solving the urgent needs for residential land, housing, production land, domestic water and creating livelihoods for ethnic minority people to gradually reduce poverty sustainably.

The construction of Suoi Cai flood overpass in Dong Son commune, Tan Son district, put into use since May 2024, has completely overcome the isolation during the flood season, helping local ethnic minorities to travel and trade goods more conveniently.

Creating momentum for mountainous districts

There are currently 50 ethnic groups living together in the province with over 260,000 ethnic minorities, accounting for 17% of the province's population. In the period of 2021 - 2025, the province has 58 communes in regions I, II, III and 240 extremely disadvantaged villages in ethnic minority and mountainous areas. In recent years, along with the budget from the National Target Program on Socio-Economic Development in Ethnic Minority and Mountainous Areas for the period 2021-2030, the province has allocated many resources, focusing on synchronous development of education, health, culture, and socio-economic areas in ethnic minority areas to accelerate sustainable poverty reduction and local socio-economic development.

In the 2021-2025 period, the province plans to invest over VND 3,612 billion in ethnic minority and mountainous areas with projects focusing on investment in essential rural infrastructure; solving the shortage of residential land, housing, production land and domestic water, as well as developing sustainable agricultural sectors and supporting education and training... For the National Target Program on socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas, phase I from 2021-2025, the investment capital in the province is over VND 1,177 billion, of which the central budget is over VND 962 billion, the local budget is over VND 215 billion. By the end of June 2024, over VND 574 billion had been disbursed, of which development investment capital was VND 453 billion; career capital was over VND 120 billion.

In general, programs and policies for ethnic minority and mountainous areas have been implemented fully, promptly and effectively. The basic goals and targets have been achieved compared to the set plan. Up to now, 100% of communes and 99% of villages in mountainous areas have asphalt or concrete roads to the center; 100% of villages have community houses; 99.77% of households have access to grid electricity; 96.56% of ethnic minorities have access to clean water... In addition, 183 essential infrastructure works serving the production and life of ethnic minorities have been supported for new construction investment, including 92 traffic works, 3 irrigation works, 19 schools and 1 medical facility and 65 community houses, contributing significantly to improving the material and spiritual life, raising the intellectual level of ethnic minorities, remote areas, and areas with special difficulties.

Comrade Ha Van Thinh - Head of the General Planning Department, the Provincial Ethnic Minorities Committee said: "In order to implement ethnic policies consistently and synchronously in the province, we hope that the Government and central ministries and branches will continue to pay attention and create favorable conditions to support investment resources for ethnic minority and mountainous areas of the province; promptly amend, supplement and replace decrees and circulars to quickly remove difficulties and obstacles in the implementation process in localities. At the same time, promptly issue regulations to re-demarcate ethnic minority and mountainous areas, especially for mountainous and highland communes that do not meet the criteria of 15% ethnic minorities to have a basis for effective implementation of policies, contributing to promoting the province's socio-economic development in all fields.

It can be affirmed that the implementation of programs and policies for ethnic minority and mountainous areas has so far contributed to accelerating the progress of poverty reduction and socio-economic development in localities. Since then, the people of all ethnic groups continue to believe in the renovation policy, the leadership of the Party and the State, actively compete in labor, production, building a strong political system, ensuring security, national defense, social order and safety, contributing to strengthening the great national unity bloc.

Quoc Dai