Changing the lives of ethnic minorities in the border areas

BHG - The National Target Program (NTP) for Socio-Economic Development in Ethnic Minority and Mountainous Areas, Phase I (2021-2025) was implemented from 2022. After 3 years, the lives of people and the appearance of rural areas in ethnic minority and mountainous areas on the country's border have changed day by day.

With the characteristics of a mountainous and border province, there are 11 districts and cities, with 192/193 communes, wards and towns belonging to ethnic minority and mountainous areas. Of which, there are 127 communes in area III, 2 communes in area II, 64 communes in area I. The whole province has 2,071 villages (1,353 extremely difficult villages); there are 34 border communes and towns with 123 border villages and hamlets. The population of the province is currently over 900,000 people with 19 ethnic groups living together, ethnic minorities account for 87.7%. Most ethnic minorities live in extremely difficult areas (ESD), mainly residing in high mountainous areas, strongly fragmented terrain, steep slopes, frequent flash floods and landslides; harsh climate, lack of land for production, lack of domestic water; Most of the villages and hamlets are far from towns and development centers... Therefore, the National Target Program for Socio-Economic Development in Ethnic Minority and Mountainous Areas with 10 support projects covering most areas of life, such as: Support for construction, relocation, and repair of houses; job conversion; supply and storage of domestic water; forest planting and protection; development of livelihood value chains; investment in electricity infrastructure, roads, schools, and stations; improving knowledge, eliminating illiteracy; changing thinking, eliminating gender prejudice in families; improving the effectiveness of information and communication work... is of special interest to the province, determined to be of great significance to ethnic minority households, localities in ethnic minority areas, and extremely disadvantaged areas.

Preserving Dao ethnic culture through folk art performances. Photo: Duy Tuan

As soon as the Program was deployed, authorities at all levels established Steering Committees headed by Chairmen of People's Committees at all levels; 100% of villages established Village Development Boards and Community Supervision Boards; developed plans to implement the Program in accordance with regulations on objectives, tasks, contents of projects and sub-projects associated with local practical conditions and management areas; proactively integrated funding sources, assigned agencies and units to implement according to the motto "clear work, clear responsibilities". By the end of 2024, the Provincial People's Committee had submitted to the Provincial People's Council 39 resolutions, the Provincial People's Committee issued 53 decisions, 25 plans and many documents directing the implementation of the Program and removing difficulties and obstacles for the grassroots, improving the efficiency of capital use.

By the end of 2024, the total capital allocated to implement the Program is VND 5,354,120 million, of which development investment capital is VND 2,819,393 million and public service capital is VND 2,534,727 million. The total disbursed capital is VND 3,101,467 million. In addition, combined capital mobilization and people's contributions (converted into cash) are VND 72,783 million. Through the allocated capital sources, the whole province has built 1,182 new houses, supported 824 families to change jobs, supported decentralized water for 26,313 households, built 52 new centralized domestic water supply works expected to supply water to over 5,100 households; arranged, stabilized residents and migrated 156 households; developed 43 value chains with 2,868 households participating; Supported 1,011 community production development projects for 29,551 ethnic minority households; invested in over 350 rural traffic works, nearly 800 km of rural roads were asphalted and concreted; built nearly 120 power supply works to serve daily life and production in villages and hamlets; 51 commune health stations, 145 community activity houses were built, invested in standard equipment; 37 markets were newly built and renovated; over 40 small irrigation works were repaired and renovated.

Dao ethnic people in Nam Dam village, Quan Ba commune escape poverty through community tourism development. Photo: PV

In addition, 103 infrastructure projects were invested in under special mechanisms, 217 projects in the remote areas were maintained. Over 100 schools, classrooms, 40 public offices for teachers were built; 1,275 literacy classes were opened for 4,728 ethnic minorities; vocational training was provided for over 10,000 people; 53 models of care and nurturing for the first 1,000 days of life for children were built; 394 outpatient vaccination points were supported; thousands of community communication teams, "Leaders of Change" clubs were established and maintained, models of changing "thinking and working methods" to enhance women's economic empowerment and promote gender equality; support for contracting protection of over 177 thousand hectares of special-use forests and protective forests...

According to the assessment of the Provincial People's Committee, the National Target Program on Socio-Economic Development in Ethnic Minorities and Mountainous Areas has had many positive impacts on the province's socio-economic development; the implementation of the program has promoted economic development, reduced poverty, increased people's income, improved people's material and spiritual life, and the economy of ethnic minorities and mountainous areas continues to grow. The program has helped reduce the poverty rate in ethnic minority areas in the province in the period of 2021 - 2024 by an average of 5.99%/year, poor districts and communes with special difficulties reduced by over 6%/year, contributing to the overall poverty reduction results of the province by over 4%/year. The average gross domestic product per capita has grown quite well and stably over the years, estimated to reach 43 million VND in 2025, an increase of 44.2% compared to 2020. The quality of activities in the health and education sectors has improved. Activities to preserve and promote traditional cultural values of the nation are given attention. National defense and security are maintained. The diverse ecological environment is protected, minimizing the impact of climate change. Backward customs and practices, the ideology of waiting and relying on others, gender prejudices and domestic violence are gradually eliminated. People of all ethnic groups unite, strive to rise up, and actively participate in building the great national unity bloc...

DUY TUAN

Source: https://baohagiang.vn/xa-hoi/202505/doi-thay-doi-song-dong-bao-dan-toc-thieu-so-noi-bien-cuong-6643a53/