Removing barriers and unlocking resources to implement Program 1719 (Final article): Policy adjustments are necessary

(Baothanhhoa.vn) - In the context of the two-level local government model just coming into operation, the implementation of Program 1719 in the coming period is forecast to face many difficulties. Along with the obstacles and difficulties in the 2021-2025 period, many opinions say that central ministries and branches need to make adjustments in policy design as well as implementation methods to suit the practical situation.

Folk games and performances in Hoi Xuan commune are preserved and promoted with support from Program 1719. Photo: Do Duc

Need to redefine zoning criteria

According to the Department of Ethnic Minorities and Religions, in the 2021-2025 period, the ethnic minority and mountainous areas (EM&M) of Thanh Hoa province have 11 mountainous districts and 6 districts and towns with mountainous communes and villages, with 174 communes, towns, 1,551 villages, hamlets, and neighborhoods. After streamlining the organizational structure, there are currently 87 communes in the EM&M area in the province. Among these, many communes are in the category of special difficulties according to Decision No. 861/QD-TTg dated June 4, 2021 of the Prime Minister approving the List of communes in Region III, Region II, Region I in the EM&M area in the 2021-2025 period (referred to as Decision 861) have been merged and arranged with communes that are not in the category. This inevitable reality, together with the speed of socio -economic development, requires re-demarcation of regions as a basis for implementing ethnic policies in the 2026-2030 period.

However, determining criteria for delimiting ethnic minority and mountainous areas to suit the actual situation is not simple. Because after Decision 861, the number of communes in the province in the particularly difficult area has decreased significantly compared to the previous period, but the socio-economic conditions have not changed significantly, people's lives still face many difficulties. Meanwhile, leaving the particularly difficult area has caused investment resources to the locality to decrease, people are no longer supported with health insurance, along with many preferential policies for educational development, policies to attract cadres...

At a recent working session with the National Assembly's Ethnic Council's survey delegation on the implementation of Program 1719 in the province, Director of the Department of Ethnic Minorities and Religions Vu Thi Huong proposed and recommended to the National Assembly and central ministries and branches to pay attention to removing many obstacles and difficulties. In particular, it is recommended that the Ministry of Ethnic Minorities and Religions research, develop and submit to the Government for promulgation a plan and criteria for delimiting ethnic minority and mountainous areas in the 2026-2030 period in accordance with natural conditions, socio-economic conditions, poverty criteria... to limit cases where people's lives are still difficult but the locality is not recognized as a difficult or particularly difficult area, leading to many policies not being enjoyed.

It will be very difficult to clearly and absolutely distinguish according to the level of development and socio-economic conditions. Because in reality, after the organizational arrangement, many communes in Region III, Region II, Region I have been merged into new communes. There are opinions that Program 1719 for the period 2026-2030 should not only focus on investment in extremely difficult areas. Mr. Cam Ba Lam, member of the Ethnic Council of the Provincial People's Council, Secretary of the Party Committee of Luan Thanh commune (former Standing Deputy Secretary of the old Thuong Xuan District Party Committee), expressed his opinion: Ethnic policies in the coming period should not only focus on supporting extremely difficult areas but should be expanded to other areas, to promote the socio-economic development of ethnic minority and mountainous areas in a stable and comprehensive manner.

Avoid spreading and dispersing investment resources

One of the views that many National Assembly deputies agreed with through recent meetings with voters in the province is that the State's investment resources through Program 1719 for the 2021-2025 period are still scattered and lack focus and key points. In fact, there have been many projects and sub-projects that account for a large proportion of investment capital, but when put into practice in social life, they are not suitable and cannot be disbursed. For example, supporting residential land for people, or supporting short-term vocational training but not linked to job creation, policies on investing in essential infrastructure, serving production and people's lives are very necessary but capital is still limited...

Mr. Le Hong Quang, Secretary of the Na Meo Commune Party Committee, said: In order for Program 1719 to play a more prominent role in the socio-economic development of ethnic minority and mountainous areas in the 2026-2030 period, the Central Government needs to focus on investment with focus, key points and spillover effects, avoiding scattered and fragmented investment. Investment areas need to focus on infrastructure, supporting production development, supporting jobs to create livelihoods, and improving people's capacity and skills. In particular, transport infrastructure and technology infrastructure should be given top priority.

In addition, the method of managing and using capital from the Central Government to implement Program 1719 in the 2026-2030 period also needs to be adjusted. In the context of strong decentralization and delegation of power after the organization and arrangement of the apparatus, the Central Government should allocate total capital according to the mechanism and purpose of use. The provincial and communal levels are responsible for using capital to suit the practical situation and promote the potential, strengths, and unique conditions of each locality. Because in reality, the socio-economic conditions of ethnic minority and mountainous areas in different provinces, even in the same locality, it will be very difficult to have a common answer on the development investment model.

In addition, the Central Government should soon have solutions to support social security policies such as health insurance, education development... in communes in region III, region II, and especially disadvantaged villages and hamlets in the 2021-2025 period that have just been recognized as meeting NTM standards. At the same time, it should soon issue criteria to identify ethnic groups that are still facing many difficulties and have specific difficulties in the 2026-2030 period as a basis for localities to organize the implementation of related policies.

It must be affirmed that Program 1719 is a humane policy, demonstrating the special attention and care of the Party and State for the lives of people in ethnic minority and mountainous areas, which are still facing many difficulties, so that no one is left behind. However, the difficulties and inadequacies in organizing and implementing the program in recent times are requiring policy adjustments to suit the practical situation, especially in the context of implementing a 2-level local government model with stronger decentralization and delegation of power at the grassroots level.

Do Duc

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/go-bo-rao-can-khoi-thong-nguon-luc-thuc-hien-chuong-trinh-1719-bai-cuoi-can-thiet-phai-dieu-chinh-chinh-sach-256228.htm