Khmer people in Soc Trang city live in the suburbs, most of them earn their living by farming. In recent years, in an effort to help ethnic minorities develop their economy, Party committees, authorities, sectors and organizations at all levels have paid attention to creating favorable conditions to support loans; support plants, seeds, materials, and production services. In addition, training courses on transferring science and technology have been organized for people to apply in production, helping to change production practices, actively transforming the structure of crops and livestock with high economic value.

Many agricultural production models applied by Khmer people have brought high efficiency. Photo: LE VU

Ward 7, Soc Trang city is one of the localities with a large Khmer population. Policies for the Khmer people are always promptly implemented by the locality, creating motivation to help the Khmer people be excited and actively work with the local government to effectively implement poverty reduction work, changing the face of each residential area. Especially in agricultural production, in addition to transferring science and technology, supporting plants and breeds, the locality also introduces many new farming models that bring high income to farmers.

Mr. La Ngoc Anh, in Hamlet 6, Ward 7, Soc Trang city shared: "In recent years, Ward 7 has had a clear change, the alleys have been upgraded, making it convenient for trade and travel. In the field of agricultural production, people have also had access to loans, and have been transferred some new production models, such as the model of raising beef cattle, the model of growing coriander... thanks to which people's lives have become more prosperous."

Ward 10, Soc Trang city has more than 60% Khmer people; life is very difficult, many households have no jobs, no land for production, making a living is always a daily concern; many households have just escaped poverty but become poor again. What to do to help people escape poverty sustainably is a difficult problem for local authorities and Party committees. However, in recent years, thanks to support policies and the efforts of each person and each household, the lives of the majority of Khmer people have clearly changed.

Mr. Thach Chuong, in Hamlet 2, Ward 10, Soc Trang city, excitedly said: "Thanks to vocational training and job placement policies, the lives of people in Ward 10 have clearly changed. The majority of young people of working age in the ward have jobs, thanks to which social evils have also decreased significantly."

Along with economic development, the education sector has also changed significantly. In wards with a large Khmer population, schools are invested in spacious and modern facilities; teaching and learning equipment is relatively fully equipped. With favorable conditions in terms of facilities, the teaching staff promotes the spirit of self-study, creativity, flexibly applying electronic lectures and information technology, improving the quality of teaching, providing basic knowledge for students to develop skills. In particular, the teaching of Khmer letters and language is also of interest to schools, contributing to the preservation and promotion of Khmer language and writing.

Mr. Dien Von, a member of the Board of Directors of Chroi Tum Chas Pagoda, Ward 10, Soc Trang City, shared: "What I like most is that schools are widely invested in, and the teaching of Khmer language and writing is given attention. 100% of school-age children can go to school. In addition, young people who wish to attend popularization classes organized by the locality can contribute to improving the people's knowledge."

Many Khmer people benefit from the Program to eliminate temporary and dilapidated houses. Photo: LE VU

In addition, localities with a large Khmer population also directed the organization to effectively implement two national target programs on sustainable poverty reduction and socio-economic development in ethnic minority areas. Ward 5, Soc Trang city has about 18,000 people, of which Khmer people account for 67%, the largest in the city. Agriculture is the spearhead economy, to help farmers develop household economy, especially Khmer people, the locality has promptly deployed and effectively implemented programs and policies of the Central and the province to support ethnic minorities. Accordingly, the transfer of science and technology is given top priority, regularly organizing training courses and seminars for farmers to exchange experiences, apply new techniques to farming, thereby increasing production value and improving people's lives.

Comrade Ly Hong Loc - Vice Chairman of Ward 5 People's Committee, Soc Trang city added: "In agricultural production, the local government finds every way to support people, regularly coordinates with specialized sectors to organize seminars on transferring science and technology on rice cultivation and vegetable production. At the same time, sign contracts with businesses to purchase products for people".

In addition to effectively implementing national target programs, the city also mobilizes resources to support people, creating conditions for people to access loans from the Bank for Social Policies, and develop family economy. In particular, the city has implemented housing and land support policies for the right subjects. Implementing the National Target Program for Sustainable Poverty Reduction for the 2021-2025 period, the city has built 158 ​​solidarity houses, with a total cost of over 7.8 billion VND. In particular, implementing the Program to eliminate temporary and dilapidated houses, by March 31, the Steering Committee for the Program to eliminate temporary and dilapidated houses at all levels of the city had started construction and completed 192 houses with a total cost of over 7.5 billion VND, reaching 51%, of which 60 houses were newly built and 132 houses were repaired.

Not only is the material life better, but the spiritual life of the Khmer people is also of interest to the Party Committee and the government of Soc Trang city. This is demonstrated through the implementation of policies to help the Khmer people preserve and promote their national cultural identity. Many cultural activities for the Khmer people have been maintained regularly. On the occasion of the Khmer people's annual holidays and Tet, the city also organizes the Khmer singing contest, the Iron ball and volleyball tournament. And to create favorable conditions for the Khmer people to participate in cultural and religious activities, Soc Trang province and Soc Trang city also allocate a significant amount of funding to support Khmer Theravada Buddhist pagodas; types of folk culture are facilitated by specialized agencies and localities to preserve and promote. Thanks to that, the cultural and beautiful values ​​of the Khmer people are not only not lost but also developed. Through these cultural identity preservation activities, the Khmer ethnic community has further promoted the spirit of national solidarity to join hands and contribute to the development of Soc Trang city.

Venerable Ly Minh Duc - Abbot of Som Rong Pagoda, Ward 5, Soc Trang City excitedly said: "In the past time, Som Rong Pagoda has received attention and support from Soc Trang Province and Soc Trang City to renovate and upgrade. In the future, the pagoda will continue to invest in some additional items to serve local cultural activities and the religious needs of people in the area, contributing with the province to develop the field of spiritual tourism".

Caring for the material and spiritual life of the Khmer people is one of the important policies that Soc Trang city has flexibly applied, gradually improving and enhancing the lives of the Khmer people. This is also the foundation for the city's Khmer people to participate in organizing traditional festivals of the nation in an increasingly neat, joyful and happy manner.

LE VU