Removing difficulties in implementing National Target Program 1719

The National Target Program on Socio-Economic Development of Ethnic Minorities and Mountainous Areas for the 2021-2025 period has been contributing to improving the quality of life of ethnic minorities in the province. However, the implementation of the Program is facing many difficulties, especially after the implementation of the 2-level local government model. Son La province is researching and proposing policy adjustments and implementation methods suitable to local realities.

The Department of Ethnic Minorities and Religions is monitoring the implementation of Program 1719 in Van Son ward.

In the 2021-2025 period, the ethnic minority and mountainous areas (EM&MN) of Son La province have 126 communes in region III and 1,449 extremely disadvantaged villages within the scope of the National Target Program on Socio -Economic Development of Ethnic Minority and Mountainous Areas (National Target Program 1719). From July 1, 2025, after streamlining the organizational structure, many extremely disadvantaged communes have merged with non-EM/MN communes, requiring re-demarcation of regions as a basis for implementing ethnic policies in the 2026-2030 period.

At the working session with the survey team of the Ministry of Ethnic Minorities and Religions on the implementation of Program 1719, the province proposed to study, develop and submit to the Government for promulgation a plan and criteria for delimiting ethnic minority and mountainous areas in the period of 2026-2030 that are suitable for natural conditions, socio-economic conditions, poverty criteria, etc. to limit cases where people's lives are still difficult, but the locality is not recognized as a disadvantaged area, leading to many policies not being enjoyed. Ethnic policies in the coming period should not only focus on supporting extremely disadvantaged areas but should be expanded to other areas, to promote stable and comprehensive socio-economic development of ethnic minority areas.

Mr. Nguyen Viet Hung, Director of the Department of Ethnic Minorities and Religions, informed: By the end of August 2025, the whole province had disbursed over 75% of the capital plan. Although the disbursement rate is high compared to the national average, the implementation of tasks and contents under the career capital source, especially the capital source to support production development, could not be implemented or the disbursement was slow, requiring capital transfer. Some old districts have not promptly arranged local budget counterpart funds to implement the program according to regulations... The implementation of Program 1719 is still scattered; many projects and sub-projects account for a large proportion of investment capital, but when put into practice in social life, they are not suitable and cannot be disbursed. Typically, the support of residential land for people, or support for short-term vocational training but not linked to job creation; the policy of investing in essential infrastructure, serving production and people's lives is very necessary but the capital is low...

Training conference on skills to build and implement Program 1719 projects for prestigious people.

Based on the review of administrative units, in the period of 2026-2030, Son La province proposed to implement Program 1719 in all 75 communes and wards, with an expected capital allocation of over VND 5,450 billion. Mr. Bui Van Thanh, Head of the Ethnic Policy Department, Department of Ethnic Minorities and Religions, said: There needs to be adjustments in the way of managing and using capital from the Central Government to implement Program 1719 in accordance with the current period. In the context of strong decentralization and delegation of power, 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.

According to the design, Program 1719 has 10 projects, 14 sub-projects, 36 contents, 137 tasks. However, in the past, some sub-projects have been implemented slowly or have not been implemented due to problems with guiding documents. The province is requesting central ministries and branches to direct and guide localities to review and select projects, sub-projects, and component contents that have been and are being implemented effectively to continue to be included in the next phase; remove contents and tasks in component projects that cannot be implemented or have been implemented but with low quality from the program.

A working delegation from the Department of Ethnic Minorities and Religions inspected the embankment project to prevent landslides at the Vietnam - Laos revolutionary historical relic site in Phieng Khoai commune.

Regarding investment capital, the province proposed that the Central Government consider integrating the content of supporting residential land, housing, and centralized domestic water; planning, arranging, and stabilizing residents in necessary places; investing in consolidating and developing the education system; restoring, preserving, and promoting traditional cultural values; and investing in socio-economic development of ethnic minority groups with very few people into the same project. Thereby, creating favorable conditions for localities to be proactive in developing medium-term plans, prioritizing the selection of urgent projects for investment first in the same project; annually, not having to submit to competent authorities to adjust and approve public investment capital for projects and speeding up the construction progress of projects without interruption.

National Target 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 that still face many difficulties. However, the difficulties and shortcomings in the organization and implementation of the program in recent times are requiring 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. In the period of 2026 - 2030, the program needs to be designed more appropriately to act as a lever to promote socio-economic development in ethnic minority areas.

Source: https://baosonla.vn/xa-hoi/thao-go-kho-khan-trong-thuc-hien-chuong-trinh-mtqg-1719-QlhpAh9HR.html