Caring for the lives of Khmer ethnic women

Co Do district is home to a large number of Khmer ethnic people. In recent years, together with the Party Committee, local authorities, and the district Women's Union at all levels, have made efforts to implement many activities to support Khmer ethnic women in changing crop structure, applying advanced science and technology in production; providing capital support, vocational training, job referrals, etc. Thereby, helping Khmer ethnic women increase their income and stabilize their lives.

Officials of the Women's Union of Dong Thang commune (left) visit the business situation of Khmer women members in Dong Thang hamlet.

The family used to be very poor, but thanks to diligence and hard work, Ms. Thach Thi Son's family in Dong Thang hamlet, Dong Thang commune, Co Do district gradually stabilized their lives. Previously, the family's economy was tight, without land, Ms. Son and her husband had to work for hire to make a living. Ms. Son confided: "The Women's Union introduced me to borrow capital from the Bank for Social Policies (VBSP), I had the conditions to invest in production and business. In the first loan, I rented 5 hectares of land to farm and farm. The second time, I opened a grocery store at home. And most recently, I borrowed money to rent more land to farm." Currently, on 18 hectares of rented land, Ms. Son grows 2 rice crops per year, earning about 5 million VND/hectare/crop. Her grocery store sells many essential goods, earning over 100,000 VND per day. Through diligence and effective use of capital, Ms. Son's family's economy overcame difficulties and became increasingly prosperous.

Also in Dong Thang hamlet, Ms. Ly Thi Hoa is one of the Khmer women's association members who are good at production and business. Ms. Hoa said: "Previously, I only had 2 hectares of land to grow sugarcane. After many years of working and saving, I bought 9 more hectares of land to farm. Later, all of this land fell into planning, I continued to buy 18 hectares of land near my house to farm. After a period of growing squash with high economic efficiency, in the last crop, I switched to growing squash on the entire land area." According to Ms. Hoa, the Commune Women's Union always accompanies her in economic development through many practical activities, such as supporting loans, training and transferring science and technology... Currently, Ms. Hoa grows 2 crops of squash/year, the purchase price of traders fluctuates at 6,000-7,000 VND/kg, the average income is about 280 million VND/crop.

Not only Ms. Son and Ms. Hoa, through the support of the Women's Union of Dong Thang commune, many Khmer women have had a better life. According to Ms. Le Kim Luyen, President of the Women's Union of Dong Thang commune, in the commune, Khmer women live in Dong Thang hamlet. The work of caring for and improving the lives of Khmer people in general and Khmer women in particular has always been of interest to the Women's Union of Dong Thang hamlet. Currently, the Union is managing a savings and loan group from the Bank for Social Policies, helping 59 Khmer women borrow capital to develop their family economy, with a total outstanding debt of over 1.7 billion VND. In addition, the Women's Union of Dong Thang Hamlet pays special attention to building collective economic models suitable to local realities, such as the model "Khmer ethnic women maintain and promote traditional cake making", the "Knitting and rapping lu" Cooperative Group...

In Co Do town, the Khmer ethnic people live in Thoi Hoa B hamlet. In recent years, the Women's Union of the town has implemented many solutions to change the awareness of women members, especially Khmer women, about developing collective economic models and solutions to develop family economy. Since 2022, the Union has established the "Flattened Com" Cooperative. The cooperative has attracted 10 Khmer women members in Thoi Hoa B hamlet to participate. Thereby, the women have maintained and developed traditional occupations, while generating income and improving their lives. In addition to supporting promotion and finding outlets for products, the Women's Union of the town has introduced loans to members of the Cooperative from the Bank for Social Policies, with a total outstanding loan balance of over 4 billion VND.

According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Thuy, Chairwoman of the Women's Union of Co Do district, the district currently has 1,575 Khmer women cadres and members, accounting for 6.22% of the total number of women members in the district. In recent years, the Union has focused on propaganda work, promptly implementing policies of the Party and State related to ethnic minorities; building core members among ethnic minorities to promptly grasp the thoughts and legitimate aspirations of women. At the same time, the Union at all levels has organized many activities to provide consultation, introduce jobs, support members to access preferential loans, apply scientific and technological advances in production... contributing to creating jobs and increasing income for Khmer women members. Currently, the Union at all levels has guaranteed credit with local banks, helping over 300 households to borrow preferential loans to develop their family economy. Every year, the Women's Union at all levels coordinates with relevant units to organize many training courses on science and technology in growing rice, vegetables and fruit trees; encourages members to apply advanced science and technology; supports the construction of suitable economic models to improve livelihood opportunities, create opportunities to increase income... Thereby, contributing to helping Khmer women change their "thinking and working style" in economic development, actively work and produce to stabilize their lives.

Article and photos: KIEN QUOC

Source: https://baocantho.com.vn/cham-lo-doi-song-phu-nu-dan-toc-khmer-a187301.html