Bac Lieu: Effectively implementing National Target Program 1719

From the funding source of the National Target Program for socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas for the period 2021 - 2030; Phase I: From 2021 to 2025 (National Target Program 1719), Bac Lieu province focused on investing in essential infrastructure, supporting production, and developing socio-economic activities, contributing to improving the material and spiritual lives of ethnic minority and mountainous areas. On March 28, a delegation from Kien Giang province, led by Mr. Danh Lam, Deputy Director of the Department of Ethnic Minorities and Religion of the province, visited, congratulated, and presented gifts to the Cham people in Roc La hamlet, Tay Yen A commune (An Bien district, Kien Giang province) on the occasion of the end of the Islamic Ramadan fasting month and Roya Haji. On the afternoon of March 29, in Da Nang city, General Secretary To Lam and the Central delegation worked with the Standing Committee of the Da Nang City Party Committee and the Standing Committee of the Quang Nam Provincial Party Committee on the implementation of the Resolution of the 13th National Congress of the Party and the implementation of resolutions of the Party congresses at all levels of the two localities. The Ta Tai Phan Festival, also known as the Prayer for Peace Ceremony, is a religious and spiritual tradition deeply rooted in the beliefs of the Chinese community in Ho Chi Minh City. It's an occasion for people to pray for the souls of the deceased to find peace, for national peace and prosperity, favorable weather, bountiful harvests, flourishing nature, and a happy and prosperous life for the people. This is a summary of news from the Ethnic Minorities and Development Newspaper. The morning news on March 29th includes the following noteworthy information: The Fire King - Legend and Reality; Nha Trang Cathedral; A "Garden of Eden" amidst the sun and wind; and other current events in the ethnic minority and mountainous regions. This afternoon news on March 28th includes the following noteworthy information: The Cold Food Festival - A beautiful tradition of the Vietnamese people; Chon Khong Zen Monastery and the giant gold-plated Buddha statue; The "fire-lighter" at the national border. Along with other current news from ethnic minority and mountainous regions, coriander is one of the very familiar herbs in Vietnam, an ingredient in traditional dishes such as salads and soups. Besides that, this herb is also known for its health benefits, which is the content we will present to you in this week's segment. With high economic value, the bamboo rat is being experimentally raised by some households in Bat Mot commune, Thuong Xuan district (Thanh Hoa province), in the border area, with the hope of bringing high income and helping households escape poverty. This is a summary of news from the Ethnic Minorities and Development Newspaper. This afternoon's news bulletin on March 26th includes the following noteworthy information: Opening of the National Tourism Year 2025; Ancient monastery in Ninh Binh; Silk weaving village over 400 years old. Along with other current news from ethnic minority and mountainous regions, two Red Dao content creators, the account owners May Kim Dao Do and May Chan Sa Pa, have attracted millions of views on social media. Not only do they promote the culture of the highland ethnic minorities, but they also open up many new avenues for life development. Recently, I had the opportunity to accompany a group of artists from the Phu Yen Provincial Literature and Arts Association to Tuy An district, Phu Yen province, to find inspiration for creative works on the theme: "Returning to the Heritage Region of Tuy An." From my perspective, in terms of aesthetics, Vuc Hom waterfall has its own unique and captivating beauty. Funded by the National Target Program for socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous regions for the period 2021-2030; Phase I: From 2021 to 2025 (National Target Program 1719), Bac Lieu province focused on investing in essential infrastructure, supporting production, and developing socio-economic activities, contributing to improving the material and spiritual lives of ethnic minority and mountainous areas. For decades, along the northern bank of the Tra River, in Tinh An Tay commune, Quang Ngai city, many people have been surprised to see an elderly man diligently restoring the Tra River waterwheel – an irrigation project closely associated with the traditional rice cultivation process of the people of Quang Ngai. The person diligently working on this project is Mr. Mai Van Quyt, 80 years old, residing in Tinh An Tay commune. The "90-day and night" campaign – a three-month peak period from March 1st to June 1st – is being vigorously pursued by the Steering Committee of Tuong Duong district (Nghe An province) to complete the project… despite the high demand for housing construction in the area, which has the largest number of houses built in the province, as well as difficulties in transporting materials and finding land for people to build houses.

Ethnic minority people in Vinh Thinh commune, Hoa Binh district, receive breeding cows from a project under the National Target Program 1719. Photo: Phuong Nam

Hung Hoi commune, Vinh Loi district, Bac Lieu province, has a large Khmer ethnic minority population (accounting for 65.7%). Using funds from the National Target Program 1719, the Hung Hoi commune government has focused on building essential infrastructure, supporting production development, and improving the lives of local people. In particular, the program and policies supporting ethnic minorities have helped build many rural roads and bridges, facilitate job placement, provide preferential credit, and health insurance cards, contributing to improving the material and spiritual lives of ethnic minorities.

Mr. Lam Nhu, residing in Nuoc Man hamlet, Hung Hoi commune, previously faced significant economic hardship. However, since the government facilitated his access to loan capital under Government Decree No. 28/2022/ND-CP on preferential credit policies for the National Target Program 1719, and provided guidance on developing a systematic farming model and participating in training courses on crop cultivation techniques, Mr. Nhu has confidently changed his farming methods, contributing to a stable income for his family.

Mr. Lam Nhu said: "My family earns 200,000 - 250,000 VND per day from our specialized crop farming model on 2,000 square meters of farmland thanks to a 40 million VND loan from the District Social Policy Bank for production investment. I will strive even harder to escape poverty sustainably and repay the loan to the government so that households in more difficult circumstances than mine can receive this preferential policy."

Mr. Lam Nhu (far left), residing in Nuoc Man hamlet, Hung Hoi commune, Vinh Loi district, Bac Lieu province, cultivates a specialized vegetable garden that earns him 200,000 - 250,000 VND per day. Photo: Huu Loi

Over the past four years, the implementation of National Target Program 1719 in Bac Lieu province has yielded positive results, gradually improving the material and spiritual lives of people in ethnic minority areas. National Target Program 1719 in Bac Lieu province was implemented in 11 communes in Zone I, 3 communes in Zone II, and 36 hamlets in ethnic minority areas, according to Decision No. 861/QD-TTg dated June 4, 2021, of the Prime Minister and Decision No. 497/QD-UBDT dated July 30, 2024, of the Committee for Ethnic Minorities; comprising 6 projects: Project 1, Project 5, Project 6, Project 7, Project 9, and Project 10.

During the period 2021-2024, the province allocated VND 118,234 million (VND 101,501 million from the central budget and VND 16,823 million from the local budget), with the province's counterpart funding rate at 16.5%, exceeding the central government's regulation of 15%, to implement projects and sub-projects under the National Target Program. Accordingly, VND 61,164 million has been disbursed, reaching 51.7%, of which VND 53,794 million from the central budget (52.9%) and VND 7,370 million from the local budget (43.8%).

Bac Lieu is a province located in the Mekong Delta region. According to statistics from the Provincial Ethnic and Religious Affairs Committee, ethnic minorities in Bac Lieu account for 9.2% of the total provincial population; of which, the Khmer ethnic group comprises 76,146 people, accounting for 7.58%; the Hoa ethnic group comprises 23,020 people, accounting for 1.6%; and other ethnic groups comprise 300 people, accounting for 0.02%. The majority of ethnic minorities in the province live by farming and live in mixed communities.

The National Target Program 1719 has basically addressed the pressing needs of ethnic minority communities, building 468 houses (50 million VND/house); supporting vocational retraining for 823 households (10 million VND/household); supporting decentralized water supply for 559 households (3 million VND/household); and constructing 5 centralized water supply projects. Simultaneously, it has implemented projects and sub-projects on training and job creation; investing in upgrading the provincial ethnic boarding school, eradicating illiteracy; providing ethnic knowledge and Khmer language training for officials and civil servants in target groups 3 and 4; investing in, preserving, and promoting ethnic cultural values; providing healthcare; reducing child marriage and consanguineous marriage; disseminating legal education; and honoring and commending influential individuals…

This has created momentum to promote socio-economic development in ethnic minority areas, contributing to helping ethnic minorities stabilize their lives, create jobs, ensure social security, and achieve sustainable poverty reduction in ethnic minority areas within the province. By the end of 2024, the poverty rate among ethnic minorities was 1.4% (258 households), and the near-poverty rate among ethnic minorities was 2.5% (456 households).

Thanks to the effective implementation of investment programs and projects, and support from the state budget, the ethnic minority areas of Bac Lieu province continue to transform in all fields. This creates an important foundation for the sustainable development of ethnic minority areas in Bac Lieu province in the coming years.

Bac Lieu: Many achievements in sustainable development in ethnic minority areas.

Source: https://baodantoc.vn/bac-lieu-thuc-hien-hieu-qua-chuong-trinh-mtqg-1719-1743138069870.htm