Visiting a model ethnic minority village.

We arrived in An Lão, Bình Định province, during the transitional season, with gentle rains cooling the air after a scorching hot season. In the distance, mist drifted over the mountains, creating a tranquil atmosphere characteristic of the vast forest. At the An Dũng resettlement area, a lively and vibrant atmosphere emanated from the people. Interspersed among the modern houses were traditional stilt houses of the ethnic minority communities, creating a unique contrast amidst the mountains and forests.

The infrastructure of the An Dung Resettlement Area has been invested in and built to a high standard.

People's lives have improved.

Returning to the An Dung Resettlement Area this time, we clearly felt the new life and bright colors of the Hre people after 4 years of leaving their village. The difficulties and unfamiliarity in the new land have gradually faded away, replaced by a vibrant and colorful new rhythm of life. Few would have thought that after only 4 years of resettlement in the new village, the lives of the Hre people in An Dung commune would quickly stabilize and flourish like this.

The person we met and spoke with was Mr. Dinh Thanh Dua, a member of the Hre ethnic group; he has lived almost his entire life in the An Dung area. Mr. Dua said: "Our old village gave up its land to the government for the Dong Mit water reservoir project. When we first moved here, life was very difficult, but thanks to the government's support, we have gradually stabilized."

Elder Dinh Van Nuoi, ​​a respected figure in Hamlet 2, commented: "To date, after three years of resettlement in the new village, the lives of 136 households with over 340 people in Hamlet 2 have become much more stable. Besides farming and livestock raising, many have developed service industries such as food and beverage services to meet the local needs of their fellow villagers. It must be said that the lives of the people in the new resettlement village are much better than before in the old village," Elder Dinh Van Nuoi affirmed.

According to Dinh Van Phien, Chairman of the People's Committee of An Dung commune: Thanks to the attention of the province and district in allocating sufficient forest and agricultural land for the people to produce, the economic life of the local people has now basically stabilized. "Now we can rest assured! The people have learned to cling to the land, the fields, the forests, to raise livestock, to cultivate crops, to trade and do business to develop their household economy... The lives of the people have improved significantly," Mr. Phien added.

Model village

The Dong Mit irrigation reservoir has a capacity of 90 million cubic meters, with a total investment of 2,142 billion VND from government bonds and local budgets. This is a key project of Binh Dinh province, aiming to contribute to the socio-economic development of four districts: An Lao, Hoai An, Hoai Nhon, and Phu My. The project affected 890 households, including 478 households in An Dung commune who had to relocate.

Having settled in their new homes, the people of An Dung are focusing on production and economic development.

According to Mr. Do Tung Lam, Vice Chairman of the An Lao District People's Committee, in reality, there were many conflicting opinions during the implementation process, and many people hesitated and worried about their future when moving to the new place. But thanks to the open and transparent approach, the people accepted relocating to the new place and built spacious houses.

“For ethnic minority communities, settled farming is very important, and if they are going to produce, they must produce wet rice to ensure stability and longevity. If they continue with slash-and-burn farming, it will easily lead to nomadic lifestyles. Especially for rice paddies, we will transport the topsoil from the old village to the new village. This ensures the fertility of the new rice paddies and helps the people feel less homesick, as they still have land inherited from their ancestors. Therefore, the people are very supportive and happy about this,” Mr. Lam further shared.

The education of Hrê ethnic minority children in the new resettlement area is receiving increased attention and investment. Mr. Huynh Van Nhin, Principal of An Dung Primary School, said: “The school has about 160 students studying in 6 classes, from grade 1 to grade 5. With improved infrastructure and a centralized school location, the school's management and teaching have gradually improved.”

Traditional houses interspersed with modern houses create a beautiful picture in the An Dung Resettlement Area.

The local government also takes care of the people's healthcare. The commune's health station is equipped with doctors, beds, and medical supplies and equipment, ensuring effective medical examination and treatment. The rate of people participating in health insurance reaches 100% of the population. Social welfare policies are fully and promptly implemented by the commune, targeting the right beneficiaries.

Mr. Ho Quoc Dung, Secretary of the Binh Dinh Provincial Party Committee, shared: "Having to relocate to a new place to make way for the Dong Mit Irrigation Reservoir Project is a great sacrifice for the people of An Dung. To compensate for this, the provincial leadership has provided maximum support, applying all policies to ensure that the people have a better life and better farming conditions in their new homes. At this point, it can be said that the people of An Dung commune have settled into their new lives in the resettlement area. The material and spiritual lives of the people have changed significantly. And this is a model ethnic minority residential area of ​​Binh Dinh province."

T.Nhan - H.Truong (Ethnic Groups and Development Newspaper)

Source: https://baophutho.vn/ve-tham-ngoi-lang-dong-bao-dan-toc-thieu-so-kieu-mau-221313.htm