Paying attention to and caring for the lives of ethnic minority people.

Implement policies in a coordinated manner.

With over 30,000 ethnic minority people living there, mainly the Muong (accounting for up to 96.7%), in order to create conditions for ethnic minorities and ethnic minority areas to leverage their advantages and potential to integrate into the global community, over the past five years, Ninh Binh province has effectively implemented central government programs and projects combined with the province's specific policies to develop ethnic minority areas relatively comprehensively.

Accordingly, the Provincial Party Committee, the Provincial People's Council, the Provincial People's Committee, and the Provincial Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front have paid attention to leading and directing ethnic affairs, issuing many documents to lead and direct the development of programs, projects, and plans aimed at building infrastructure, implementing social welfare policies, and caring for the material and spiritual lives of ethnic minorities, ensuring suitability to the characteristics and needs of each locality and ethnic group. The Provincial People's Council has also issued many Resolutions stipulating specific policies to provide timely support to vulnerable groups, including ethnic minorities, such as: Regulations on policies to support households of poor people with members who have rendered meritorious services to the revolution in the province; regulations on policies to support the construction and repair of houses for poor households in Ninh Binh province in the period 2023-2025.

Over the past five years, Ninh Binh province has implemented numerous programs, projects, and plans, including: the Plan for implementing the Ethnic Affairs Strategy for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2045; the Plan for implementing the National Target Program for socio -economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas for the period 2021-2030; the Plan for implementing the Program for developing trade in mountainous, remote, and island areas in Ninh Binh province for the period 2021-2025; the Plan for coordinating the development of a national scientific dossier on the Mo Muong cultural heritage to be submitted to UNESCO for inscription on the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage in need of urgent safeguarding; and the Plan for preserving and promoting the value of folk songs, folk dances, and folk music of the Muong ethnic group in conjunction with tourism development for the period 2022-2030 in Ninh Binh province.

Once one of the most disadvantaged localities in Nho Quan district, Thach Binh commune has undergone a strong transformation in recent years. According to Mr. Vu Dung, Chairman of the People's Committee of Thach Binh commune: Implementing targeted programs for socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas, linked with the national target program for building new rural areas, Thach Binh commune has received significant investment in rural transportation infrastructure, welfare facilities, and livelihood support for ethnic minorities. This has significantly contributed to gradually changing the mindset of economic development and the building of cultural life among the people. Outdated customs in rituals and funerals have been eradicated, and the cultural identity of the Muong ethnic group has been preserved and promoted.

In 2020, Thach Binh was recognized by the Nho Quan District People's Committee as a "Commune meeting the standards of new rural culture"; in 2021, Thach Binh commune was recognized as meeting the standards of a new rural area. "It can be said that the targeted programs for socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas and the province's policies have created momentum for disadvantaged communes like Thach Binh to rise strongly," affirmed the Chairman of the Thach Binh Commune People's Committee.

Over the past five years, the entire province has mobilized more than 326 billion VND to implement the National Target Program for socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas. As a result, hundreds of households have received support for starting businesses, dozens of production facilities have been renovated, and hundreds of ethnic minority workers have gained convenient access to labor market information and job search and connection services, contributing to improving the lives of ethnic minorities in the locality.

Creating momentum for ethnic minority areas.

The comprehensive and synchronized implementation of ethnic affairs work in recent years has created a "boost" for ethnic minority regions and communities in the province to develop strongly. Currently, 100% of communes in ethnic minority areas of the province have convenient transportation routes from the commune center to villages and hamlets; 100% of households have access to the national power grid; and more than 90% of the population in ethnic minority areas have access to clean water. Besides investing in infrastructure and production, Ninh Binh province pays special attention to promoting cultural identity, investing in education and healthcare, combined with mobilizing the active participation of ethnic minority communities, thereby creating a good living environment where everyone is respected and has opportunities for development.

Ms. Bui Thi Anh, one of the successful business owners in Quang Lac commune (Nho Quan district), shared: "As a Muong ethnic minority, born and raised in Quang Lac, I understand the difficulties faced by the people here. Previously, the lives of the people in this area mainly depended on agricultural production with the main crops being rice, cassava, and potatoes, and were completely dependent on nature, leading to many hardships. However, thanks to the attention of the Party and the State with many policies supporting ethnic minority areas, especially policies supporting production development in terms of seeds and livestock, I, like many other people in Quang Lac, have gradually overcome difficulties, risen out of poverty, and chosen professions to become wealthy in our homeland."

Accordingly, in 2018, with the support of the Women's Union at all levels, she boldly invested in an automatic irrigation system to cultivate 1 hectare of pumpkins and implemented crop rotation with chives. These are high-yielding and high-value crops suitable for the soil in Quang Lac. These agricultural products have been purchased by several businesses both locally and outside the area, providing a stable income for her family. This success has encouraged her and her family to continue expanding their cultivated area and share their experience with other villagers.

Alongside economic development, Ms. Anh actively participates in local cultural and artistic activities. In 2022, she was one of the founders of the Muong ethnic group's cultural, artistic, and sports club in Quang Cu village. Club members regularly practice and perform traditional Muong folk songs and dances, contributing to promoting the beautiful image of Muong ethnic culture to tourists and friends both within and outside the province.

With their diligent and hardworking nature, ethnic minority communities in Ninh Binh province have always been deeply attached to their homeland, actively reclaiming and developing difficult areas, striving to reduce poverty and become prosperous. In 2023, the average per capita income in Ninh Binh province reached 63.96 million VND/year, a significant increase compared to previous years. In particular, the average per capita income in ethnic minority areas reached 60 million VND/year, demonstrating a clear improvement in the quality of life. The poverty rate in ethnic minority and mountainous areas decreased to 2.95%, a significant reduction compared to previous years.

Besides focusing on economic development for ethnic minority communities, Ninh Binh province also pays special attention to preserving and promoting the traditional cultural identity of these ethnic groups. Cultural, artistic, and sports activities at the grassroots level are increasingly vibrant, with many clubs and groups being established and effectively maintained, such as: clubs for bamboo pole dancing, gong playing, folk singing, traditional dances, and Muong-language courtship singing… These not only create healthy recreational spaces but also contribute to preserving the unique cultural identity of each ethnic group.

The achievements in ethnic affairs in Ninh Binh province clearly demonstrate the Party and State's concern for ethnic minorities, as well as the continuous efforts of the ethnic minority communities themselves. Ethnic minorities in Ninh Binh province are increasingly enjoying stable, prosperous, and happy lives. This result creates an important foundation for Ninh Binh province to continue mobilizing resources to focus on investment and promote support policies, thereby contributing to strengthening national unity and creating momentum for the development of ethnic minorities, building a more prosperous, beautiful, and civilized homeland.

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