Creating momentum for the development of ethnic minority areas

Implementing the National Target Program on Socio-Economic Development for Ethnic Minorities and Mountainous Areas for the 2021-2030 period, Thai Nguyen province has mobilized the participation of the entire political system and all classes of people. After more than 4 years of implementing the Program, the province has achieved many important targets, such as: The poverty rate has decreased to 3.16%, the average income has increased 1.8 times compared to 2020, infrastructure in mountainous and highland areas has been gradually invested comprehensively...

Dong Tam hamlet cultural house (Dong Dat commune, Phu Luong) is being built from capital from the National Target Program on socio -economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas for the 2021-2030 period.

Dong Tam Hamlet (Dong Dat Commune, Phu Luong) is home to 76 households with 330 people, of which 80% are Mong ethnic people. This is a locality that has faced many difficulties in community life. The old cultural house is small and dilapidated, unable to meet the needs of Party cell activities, people's meetings or organizing traditional cultural activities of local people.

From the capital source of the National Target Program on Socio-Economic Development for Ethnic Minorities and Mountainous Areas for the 2021-2030 period (Program 1719), in 2025, Dong Tam hamlet will invest in building a new cultural house with an area of ​​150m2, with a total investment of 700 million VND (of which the capital source from Program 1719 supports 600 million VND, the people contribute 100 million VND and labor days). To date, the project has been completed at about 80% of the volume, expected to be completed and put into use in the third quarter of the year.

Mr. Ly Van Sai, Head of Dong Tam Hamlet, excitedly shared: The old cultural house was only temporary before, it leaked, every time there was a meeting, it was a hardship. Now that the State is supporting the construction of a new one, the villagers are very happy. Everyone is contributing to the project to complete it soon. With a spacious cultural house, the hamlet will have a place to hold meetings, perform arts activities, teach Mong language to children, and preserve the customs of their ethnic group.

Along with Dong Tam, Lien Phuong hamlet (Van Lang commune, Dong Hy) benefits from the Resettlement Area Project for ethnic minority people to avoid landslide risks, implemented under Program 1719. The resettlement area has an area of ​​over 21,500m², with a total investment of over 14.8 billion VND, and will be put into use from the beginning of 2025.

Up to now, 29 households have moved into stable housing in the resettlement area, all of whom are confident in production, economic development and gradually rising out of poverty.

Mr. Ngo Van Phung's family is one of the first households to complete a new house in the Lien Phuong resettlement area. He shared: Before, my family lived on a high mountain, and when the rainy season came, we were afraid of landslides. Now we have a new, solid house of nearly 60 square meters, with full electricity and water, and children have a place to study. The construction cost was nearly 240 million VND, of which the State supported 60 million VND. My wife and I are very happy, and will try to work hard so that our children can have a better future.

With a total disbursed capital of VND 841 billion after more than 4 years of implementation, Program 1719 has contributed to creating positive, measurable changes.

From the capital of Program 1719, many ethnic minority households in Than Sa commune (Vo Nhai) develop cattle breeding to escape poverty.

The most outstanding achievement of the program is poverty reduction. The poverty rate in 110 communes in ethnic minority and mountainous areas has decreased sharply to 3.16%, an average decrease of 2.18% per year, exceeding the target assigned by the Prime Minister and the Provincial People's Committee. In particular, the number of extremely disadvantaged communes has decreased from 15 to 6 communes, reaching 60%, exceeding the target assigned by the Central Government by 10%.

Along with poverty reduction is a significant improvement in income. The average income of ethnic minority households in the province in 2024 reached 51.07 million VND/person/year, 1.8 times higher than in 2020. With this growth rate, it is expected that by the end of 2025, the income will reach 57.6 million VND, double that of 2020 and complete the set target.

Socio-economic infrastructure has also been comprehensively invested, creating a solid foundation for development. All communes have asphalt or concrete roads to the center; 100% of hamlets in ethnic minority and mountainous areas have hardened roads to the commune center, facilitating travel and transport of goods.

Public works also received special attention. All schools and medical stations were solidly built, ensuring the qualityof education and health care for the people.

Over 97% of households have access to clean water, while 100% of households have access to the national grid, eliminating the shortage of electricity.

The spiritual life of the people has also been improved through investment in cultural infrastructure. To date, 98.8% of villages have community houses to facilitate cultural and traditional education activities; 100% of communes are connected to radio, television and modern communications, narrowing the information gap between mountainous areas and other areas.

With the strong participation of the Party Committee, the government and the consensus of the people, Program 1719 is opening up new opportunities for ethnic minorities in Thai Nguyen to gradually escape poverty, develop sustainably, preserve and promote traditional cultural identity. Thereby contributing to creating a driving force for sustainable development for 384 thousand ethnic minorities in Thai Nguyen province.

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/xa-hoi/202506/tao-dong-luc-phat-trien-vung-dan-toc-thieu-so-3fd067b/