Investigation of the current situation of 53 ethnic minorities - A "test" to evaluate the role of policy credit for ethnic minorities

After 4 years, the effectiveness and demand for access to social policy credit capital of ethnic minorities were collected from the 4th Socio-Economic Survey of 53 Ethnic Minorities in 2024, which is one of the "tests" to assess the current situation and continue to enhance the role of social policy credit for ethnic minorities. Land policy for ethnic minorities is a major and consistent policy of the Party and State. In recent years, Kon Tum province has promptly implemented land policies, creating conditions for ethnic minorities to stabilize their lives, develop production and escape poverty. In particular, the results of the Survey, collecting information on the socio-economic situation of 53 ethnic minorities in 2024 will be announced in the coming time, which will be the basis for Kon Tum province to propose many solutions to continue effectively implementing land policies for ethnic minorities. On December 8, 2024, Vietnam Electricity Group (EVN) held a conference to summarize the investment and construction of the 500kV line projects, circuit 3, Quang Trach (Quang Binh) to Pho Noi (Hung Yen). The conference was organized in a live format combined with online with the main bridge at EVN and online connection to 9 bridges in 9 provinces where the Project passed through. Implementing Resolution 21-NQ/TW of the 12th Central Executive Committee (Resolution 21-NQ/TW) issued on October 25, 2017 on population work in the new situation, it has correctly and accurately resolved Vietnam's outstanding population issues, creating a major turning point in population policy. On December 8, in Uong Bi city (Quang Ninh), the "YEN TU Heritage 2024" race took place. This is the first mass running competition held at Yen Tu Historical and Scenic Site, with 6,000 athletes from 54 provinces and cities participating. On December 8, in Voong Tre village, Van Don district (Quang Ninh), the opening ceremony of San Diu Ethnic Culture and Tourism Village, Binh Dan commune was held. In order to effectively implement the National Target Program on Sustainable Poverty Reduction for the period 2021-2025, right from the beginning of the period, Binh Gia district, Lang Son province has developed a plan with specific goals, targets and solutions. In particular, focusing resources on investing in infrastructure, supporting production development, gradually reducing the shortage of basic social services for the poor. Reporter of the Ethnic and Development Newspaper had an interview with Mr. Dao The Dong, Head of the Department of Labor, War Invalids, Social Affairs and Ethnic Minorities of Binh Gia district about the effectiveness of bringing poverty reduction policies to the people. Recently, Soc Trang province has implemented many synchronous solutions to improve the quality of vocational education in ethnic minority areas and effectively implement policies for ethnic minority students. In particular, in recent years, from resources from Sub-project 3 - Project 5 under the National Target Program on socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas for the period 2021-2030, phase I: From 2021-2025 (abbreviated as National Target Program 1719), the locality has prioritized investment and modernization of facilities. General news of the Ethnic and Development Newspaper. This morning's news, December 7, has the following notable information: Bringing vocational education policies to mountainous workers. Yen Bai 's position on the Vietnam tourism map. The person who "lights the fire" of Then melodies. Along with other current news in the ethnic minority and mountainous areas. On the evening of December 7, in An Lao district, the Provincial People's Committee solemnly held the 60th Anniversary of An Lao Victory (December 7, 1964 - December 7, 2024) to review the heroic revolutionary struggle tradition of the Party Committee, army and people of An Lao district. Land policy for ethnic minorities is a major and consistent policy of the Party and State. In recent years, Kon Tum province has promptly implemented land policies, creating conditions for ethnic minorities to stabilize their lives, develop production and escape poverty. In particular, the results of the Survey, collecting information on the socio-economic situation of 53 ethnic minorities in 2024 will be announced in the coming time, which will be the basis for Kon Tum province to propose many solutions to continue effectively implementing land policies for ethnic minorities. In the past 5 years, Dak Nong province has focused on effectively implementing ethnic programs and policies, thereby making an important contribution to promoting socio-economic development in ethnic minority areas and improving the lives of ethnic minorities in the area. In recent years, thanks to taking advantage of resources from the National Target Programs (NTGPs), the mountainous and border district of Trang Dinh has effectively implemented infrastructure investment projects, production development, creating livelihoods for poor and near-poor households... Thereby, contributing to promoting socio-economic development, changing the face of rural areas, improving people's lives. Implementing the National Target Program on socio-economic development in ethnic minority areas Ethnic minority and mountainous areas in the period of 2021-2025 (National Target Program 1719), Muong Lat district (Thanh Hoa) is promoting many propaganda activities, disseminating legal knowledge and providing legal aid to the people, focusing on especially difficult villages and hamlets, thereby making an important contribution to the work of firmly protecting border security.

Question and answer session on November 11, 2024, within the framework of the 8th session of the 15th National Assembly .

Average outstanding balance increased

Within the framework of the 8th session of the 15th National Assembly, at the question and answer session on November 11, 2024, Governor of the State Bank Nguyen Thi Hong said that currently, the loans of the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies for the National Target Program on Socio -Economic Development in Ethnic Minority and Mountainous Areas for the period 2021 - 2030 (National Target Program 1719) reached 2.3 trillion VND, with over 47,000 customers with outstanding loans.

From the social credit capital source to implement the National Target Program 1719 and other preferential loan programs and policies from the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies, in the period of 2021 - 2023, hundreds of thousands of ethnic minority households have escaped poverty, increased their income, and improved their quality of life. The number of ethnic minority households escaping poverty has increased steadily each year.

According to data from the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies, in the period of 2021 - 2023, the whole country has 584,070 households escaping poverty from preferential credit loans. Of which, in 2021 there were 164,779 households, in 2022 there were 198,492 households, in 2023 there were 220,799 households.

According to statistics, in 2021, there were 1,467,488 ethnic minority customers with outstanding loans in the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies system, in 2022 there were 1,439,816 customers, and in 2023 there were 1,424,599 customers.

Statistics of this unit also show that from 2021 to 2023, the number of ethnic minorities receiving loans from the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies compared to the total number of ethnic minorities nationwide tends to decrease slightly; from 46.33% in 2021 to 43.68% in 2023.

Statistics of this unit also show that from 2021 to 2023, the number of ethnic minorities receiving loans from the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies compared to the total number of ethnic minorities nationwide tends to decrease; from 46.33% in 2021 to 43.68% in 2023.

According to the explanation of the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies, this slight downward trend is mainly due to the credit policy specifically for ethnic minorities ending in 2020, and not being issued in time to replace it in the early period of 2021 - 2025 (until mid-2020, Decree No. 28/2022/ND-CP was issued).

In addition, according to the provisions of Decree No. 28/2022/ND-CP, communes in regions II and III according to Decision No. 861/QD-TTg when achieving new rural areas will not be entitled to enjoy credit policies in difficult areas. While these are areas with a large concentration of ethnic minorities.

Although the number of ethnic minorities accessing social policy loans tends to decrease, the total outstanding loan balance tends to increase significantly and steadily over the years. This helps the average outstanding loan balance per ethnic minority household increase, meeting the borrowing needs of beneficiaries in the context of rising prices and the need to develop large-scale production and business models among ethnic minorities.

In 2019, according to the results of the third survey and collection of information on the socio-economic situation of 53 ethnic minorities, while the ceiling for preferential loans from the Social Policy Bank is 100 million VND according to regulations, the proportion of ethnic minority households that can borrow from 1 to 50 million VND accounts for 92.7% (64.3% borrow from 21-50 million VND); only 7.3% of households borrow from 51 million VND or more. This shows that the use of preferential loans from the Social Policy Bank to develop the economy of ethnic minority households is still quite limited.

But from 2021 to 2023, the average outstanding debt per ethnic minority household has increased. Statistics from the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies show that in 2021, the average outstanding debt reached 31.45 million VND/household; in 2022 it was 35.01 million VND/household; in 2023 it was 39.31 million VND/household.

Although the number of ethnic minorities accessing social policy loans tends to decrease, the total outstanding debt tends to increase significantly and steadily over the years. This helps the average outstanding debt/ethnic minority household increase, meeting the borrowing needs of beneficiaries in the context of rising prices and the need to develop large-scale production and business models among ethnic minorities. (Illustration photo)

Information on the need to access social policy loans among ethnic minorities was collected in the fourth socio-economic survey of 53 ethnic minorities in 2024. The collected data is important data for the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies to orientate in expanding ethnic minority customers in the coming time.

At the question and answer session on November 11, 2024, Governor of the State Bank Nguyen Thi Hong said that the Ethnic Committee is currently presiding over and coordinating with ministries and branches to advise the Government on amending and supplementing Decision 1719/QD-TTg in the direction of expanding the subjects as well as increasing the loan level. Therefore, the State Bank will continue to coordinate to give opinions on this Program.

Addressing pressing needs

The National Target Program 1719 is implemented with the view of prioritizing investment and support for particularly difficult areas, focusing on solving urgent needs in ethnic minority and mountainous areas. Social policy capital has been and is making an important contribution towards those goals.

According to the statistical report of the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies, the social policy capital has been and is the driving force for localities to implement Project 1 under the MQTG 1719 Program; supporting the essential living needs of ethnic minorities such as: Housing, clean water, career conversion, job creation, etc.

Social credit capital supports ethnic minorities to solve their housing needs. (In the photo: The family of Ms. Ca An, born in 1994, in Gia Rit village, Giang Ly commune, Khanh Vinh district, Khanh Hoa province, received a social credit loan to build a new house)

Data from the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies shows that 2021 is the year with the highest number of housing projects for ethnic minority households in the period 2021 - 2023. Of which, in the Northern region, 6,600 housing projects have been built and repaired for ethnic minorities; in the Central and Central Highlands, and Southern regions, about 3,000 to over 4,300 housing projects have also been completed from social policy credit capital.

In the 2021 - 2023 period, from the social credit capital source, the whole country has built, repaired and renovated 445,000 clean water and environmental sanitation works for ethnic minority households.

According to the explanation of the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies, in 2021, the number of houses built was higher than in the following years, because 2021 was the first year of implementing policies for ethnic minorities that were issued and initially disbursed from 2021 to 2025.

By 2023, the disbursement rate will decrease due to part of the demand of households on the list of beneficiaries of housing support policies that have borrowed capital from previous years.

Also according to the report of the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies, social policy credit capital has been directly supporting the need for production land, job creation, vocational training, and career conversion for poor ethnic minorities.

In terms of job creation alone, in the 2021 - 2023 period, the number of jobs created is relatively large and tends to increase in all three regions (North, Central and Central Highlands, South). In particular, the South is the region that creates the most jobs, with about 6,000 to nearly 9,000 families supported to have jobs each year...

Although many positive results have been achieved, according to the assessment of the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies, currently in ethnic minority and mountainous areas, there are many ethnic minorities who are not poor or near-poor households participating in local production and business development projects, and need timely encouragement and support from the State.

Preferential credit policies implementing the National Target Program 1719 help hundreds of thousands of ethnic minority households rise up and escape poverty. (Lai Chau Provincial Bank for Social Policies inspects and supervises the implementation of credit programs in Hua Na commune, Than Uyen district).

Therefore, limiting the beneficiaries of the loan policy to support production development according to the value chain in Decree No. 28/2022/ND-CP to poor households and near-poor households has resulted in a segment of people living in ethnic minority and mountainous areas not receiving policy credit support to participate in regional development projects.

The demand for social credit loans to build new and renovate houses of ethnic minorities was collected in the 4th Socio-Economic Survey of 53 Ethnic Minorities in 2024. From this data, together with specialized surveys, the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies will have appropriate proposals in the coming time, contributing to the process of adjusting and amending Decision No. 1719/QD-TTg.

According to Governor of the State Bank Nguyen Thi Hong, the difficulty in implementing the National Target Program 1719 is still the capital issue. Because Resolution No. 43/2022/QH15 has clearly stated that the source of expenditure for the National Target Program 1719 is the budget and credit. Of which, the policy credit capital is 19,727 billion VND, but up to now, there are still problems because it has not been specifically determined. From now until the end of 2025, the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies needs about 1,500 billion VND more to complete the National Target Program 1719.

Promote the implementation of credit policies to implement National Target Programs

Source: https://baodantoc.vn/dieu-tra-thuc-trang-53-dtts-bai-test-danh-gia-nang-cao-vai-tro-tin-dung-chinh-sach-doi-voi-dong-bao-dtts-1733633028209.htm