Efforts to improve the lives of ethnic minority people - Cao Bang Online Newspaper

Caring for the lives of ethnic minorities has always been considered a central, continuous, and urgent task by the province. Along with the comprehensive implementation of major policies and strategies, this has created tangible changes, from transportation infrastructure, education, and healthcare to livelihoods and social security. Each village and hamlet in remote areas is changing daily, clearly demonstrating the efforts of the entire political system in bringing the Party and State's policies into practice.

Deputy Director of the Department of Ethnic Minorities and Religions, Ha Van Vui, emphasized: Ethnic minority programs and policies are only truly meaningful when the people benefit and see the changes firsthand, through their daily livelihoods. We aim for support to be accurate, targeted, and to create substantial change. During the 2021-2025 period, the province is aggressively implementing poverty reduction – the most important focus in caring for the lives of ethnic minorities. More than 33,800 poor, near-poor, and newly-escaped-poverty households have received preferential loans to develop production. Models of raising Mong cattle, local black pigs, and cultivating chestnut, bamboo, and anise trees have been widely adopted thanks to the coordination between the government, specialized agencies, and the people.

The province has fully implemented social welfare policies, such as: over 310,000 free health insurance cards have been issued; over 26,600 people have received monthly allowances; over 416,000 people have received rice relief during Tet and the lean season; and thousands of cases have received emergency assistance. These policies directly help ethnic minorities overcome difficult times, stabilize their lives, and avoid the risk of falling back into poverty – one of the biggest challenges facing ethnic minority areas.

In the field of education , school infrastructure has improved significantly. The province now has over 6,100 classrooms, of which 77% have been reinforced; 516 educational institutions have been arranged in a network suitable to the terrain and population. The number of schools meeting national standards has increased rapidly, reaching 194. In addition, the system of ethnic boarding and semi-boarding schools has been expanded, creating conditions for students in remote areas to study in a more complete environment.

Infrastructure in mountainous communes is invested in using funds from ethnic minority programs and policies.

Ms. Mac Thi Uyen, from Quang Thanh Ethnic Boarding Primary School, shared: "Previously, children had to travel long distances to school, lacked food and clothing, and easily dropped out. Now, with boarding facilities, meals are more nutritious, classrooms are more solid, and the spirit of learning is much better. Many students from the Dao and Mong ethnic groups have confidently participated in competitions and extracurricular activities. These changes are the most fundamental foundation for narrowing the development gap between mountainous and lowland areas."

In the healthcare sector, the province maintains 100% of its commune health stations as permanent structures; effectively implements the expanded immunization program; and increases the rate of women receiving regular prenatal checkups and giving birth at healthcare facilities. Models for maternal and child healthcare, care for children under 24 months old, and nurturing during the first 1,000 days of life have initially shown positive results.

Transportation infrastructure, the province's biggest bottleneck, has also received priority investment. 96.3% of roads leading to commune centers have been paved. Many inter-commune and inter-hamlet roads have been concreted thanks to the joint efforts of the people and the government. Key transportation projects such as the Dong Dang - Tra Linh expressway, the connecting route to the expressway, and the Thai Nguyen - Cao Bang expressway are being accelerated, opening up expectations for a new development corridor, facilitating the flow of goods, tourism , and cross-border trade.

Alongside socio-economic development, the province also focuses on cultural development and preserving cultural identity. 97% of villages and hamlets in the province have community centers. These centers serve as venues for meetings, festivals, policy dissemination, and the preservation of traditional costumes and customs of ethnic groups.

In addition to investing in infrastructure, the province has also implemented activities to promote gender equality and entrepreneurship for ethnic minority women. Thousands of members have received skills training, hundreds of startup ideas have been supported, and many local products have been brought to market by women entrepreneurs, contributing to enhancing the role of women in socio-economic life.

The province has decided to continue prioritizing resources for Phase II of national target programs, while also promoting a shift in production mindset, improving people's education, perfecting infrastructure, and strengthening national unity among ethnic groups.

Minh Hoa

Source: https://baocaobang.vn/no-luc-cham-lo-doi-song-dong-bao-dan-toc-thieu-so-3182941.html