Ethnic policy - the 'key' to poverty reduction for the people of Lang Son.

TPO - In recent years, Lang Son has effectively implemented national target programs, gradually improving the lives of ethnic minority people and narrowing the development gap between regions.

Lang Son is a mountainous, border province in the North, with over 83% of its population being ethnic minorities. Therefore, the locality has always considered ethnic affairs a strategic task in sustainable development. All levels and sectors have synchronously implemented ethnic programs and policies, especially those supporting economic development, production, and improving the living standards of remote, disadvantaged areas in Lang Son.

Lang Son province has established working groups to go down to the grassroots level to inspect and direct the implementation of programs and policies for ethnic minority communities.

According to the 2024 review results, the poverty rate in the province was 3.36%, and the near-poverty rate was 8%. These figures demonstrate the efforts in multidimensional poverty reduction. This includes acknowledging the widespread implementation of national target programs such as sustainable poverty reduction, new rural development, and socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas for the period 2021–2025, with the coordinated participation of the entire political system, localities, and relevant agencies.

Mr. Lam Van Vien, Deputy Director of the Department of Ethnic Minorities and Religions of Lang Son province, said: Thanks to the efforts of all levels and sectors, the material and spiritual lives of the people are increasingly stable, and infrastructure has improved significantly. By 2024, 98.3% of communes will have paved roads to their centers, 100% of communes will have access to the national power grid, and 98.5% of the rural population will have access to clean water. In addition, the economy is growing steadily with an average growth rate of 6.27% during the 2019-2023 period, and the average per capita income in 2024 is estimated at 61.9 million VND.

Thanks to national target programs, many farming households in Lang Son have boosted the cultivation of specialty crops, bringing high economic efficiency and contributing to poverty reduction.

Lang Son province has actively integrated resources from national target programs to support housing for poor households. By 2025, it is expected to support the construction and repair of over 4,400 houses with a total budget of more than 224 billion VND.

“The effective implementation of policies supporting ethnic minority and mountainous regions has contributed to sustainable poverty reduction, ensuring social security, maintaining national defense and security, and strengthening the people's trust in the Party and State's policies. The Department of Ethnic Minorities and Religion of Lang Son province will continue to coordinate with local authorities to do a good job in supporting ethnic minorities in order to narrow the development gap between regions, aiming for sustainable poverty eradication and building stable and prosperous lives,” Mr. Lam Van Vien emphasized.

Alongside economic development, Lang Son province focuses on improving transportation infrastructure, promoting commodity production, and ensuring better living conditions for its people. Many key projects, such as the Bac Giang – Chi Lang expressway, the Huu Nghi – Chi Lang expressway, and the Dong Dang – Tra Linh expressway, have been invested in, creating momentum for regional connectivity and increasing market access for ethnic minorities in mountainous areas. The appearance of ethnic minorities will improve, and their lives will become more prosperous and happier.

Source: https://tienphong.vn/chinh-sach-dan-toc-chia-khoa-giam-ngheo-cho-nguoi-dan-lang-son-post1760770.tpo