Ca Mau: Ethnic minority people's lives gradually rise out of poverty

The Department of Ethnic Minorities and Religions of Ca Mau province said that in the period of 2021 - 2025, the National Target Program on socio -economic development of ethnic minority areas in Ca Mau province has been actively and synchronously implemented, bringing about many positive results.

The program is a major policy of the Party and State, suitable to the actual situation, needs and legitimate aspirations of ethnic minorities and people in especially difficult communes, hamlets and wards of Ca Mau province.

Overall, the results achieved through the implementation of the program's support contents have significantly contributed to changing the face of ethnic minority areas in a positive direction, helping many households gradually stabilize their lives and escape poverty.

As of July 31, 2025, Ca Mau has decided to allocate detailed capital from the program to sectors and localities to implement more than 400 billion VND.

The Ngo boat of Cao Dan pagoda (Tan Loc commune, Ca Mau province) was newly built with investment from the National Target Program for socio-economic development of ethnic minority areas.

In addition to the budget, the province has proactively mobilized other legal sources of capital such as: Mobilizing contributions from businesses, charitable organizations, individuals inside and outside the province through forms of sponsorship and direct support (cash, supplies, learning equipment, seedlings, etc.). Many businesses have joined the government in supporting the construction of houses, wells, and bridges in disadvantaged areas, especially in the Khmer ethnic minority areas.

As a result, the province has completed the support of residential land for 64 households, housing support for 1,442 households, support for job conversion in lieu of production land for 1,208 households and support for scattered domestic water for 1,241 households; purchased equipment for teaching, learning and kitchen equipment for general schools with ethnic minority boarding students; restored and embellished Khmer Theravada pagodas.

Support, repair Ngo boats and organize training and competitions for the traditional Ngo boat racing team of the Khmer ethnic group; organize training classes, education, and vocational training of the Khmer ethnic group's Pentatonic music art form at pagodas; restore traditional festivals of the Khmer ethnic group (Teu-va-da procession to celebrate Chol Chnam Thmay New Year and Sand Mountain Building Festival); organize traditional costume performances integrated with the unit's art programs during tours and performances at ethnic boarding schools; support Pentatonic sets for locations and support other cultural equipment for ethnic minority areas.

Many Khmer households participate in the profession of drying snakehead fish, helping to improve their lives and escape poverty.

In the period of 2026 - 2030, Ca Mau strives for the poverty rate in ethnic minority areas to be below 1.0%; strives for ethnic minority areas to no longer be particularly difficult areas. Strengthen health care work so that ethnic minorities have access to modern health care services; continue to control and eventually eliminate epidemics in ethnic minority areas; over 98% of ethnic minorities participate in health insurance.

In addition, 100% of pregnant women receive regular prenatal check-ups and give birth at medical facilities or with the assistance of medical staff; maintain the rate of underweight malnourished children below 11%. Support the application of information technology for about 90% of cadres in the grassroots political system; support and create conditions for more than all prestigious people in the community to become political cores and core members at the grassroots level; foster knowledge of ethnic policies and ethnic affairs for more than 95% of cadres, civil servants and public employees in ethnic minority localities.

At the same time, preserve and develop the good traditional cultural values and identities of ethnic groups; maintain the annual teaching of Khmer and Chinese characters; organize well the traditional ceremonies, festivals and New Year activities of ethnic groups.