(HBO) – The national target programme on socio-economic development for ethnic minority and mountainous regions has been implemented effectively in Mai Chau district, where the number of ethnic groups accounts for 88% of its population.
Through the policies to support production and infrastructure development, the living conditions of ethnic minority people in the district has been improved significantly.
The programme has contributed to giving a facelift to rural and remote areas, promoting socio-economic development in ethnic minority areas, improving material and spiritual life for the ethnic minority community, and narrowing the development gap between ethnic groups and regions in the district.
From the funding of the national target programme on socio-economic development for ethnic minority and mountainous regions, Dong Tan commune (Mai Chau district) invests in building an in-field traffic route to serve agriculture production.
In 2020, Lo Van Tuom in Dong Bang hamlet, Dong Tan commune, was entitled to a loan of 50 million VND (2,130 USD) from the district’s Bank for Social Policies with a preferential interest rate to buy four breeding cows. After nearly three years, Tuom fully paid the principal and interest to the bank.
The implementation of policies on ethnic minority groups in the district has been considered as an important task. During the 2021-2025, Mai Chau district has been allocated 49.9 billion VND for implementing the National Target Programme on socio-economic development for ethnic minority and mountainous regions.
The district has focused on supporting people in developing production, investing in infrastructure development and effectively implementing ethnic policies.
Many other policies are also being implemented in ethnic minority areas, such as providing residential and production land, and water for ethnic minority households and poor households in extremely difficult communes, villages and hamlets.
Ha Tuan Hai, head of the Office of Ethnic Minority Affairs of Mai Chau district, said that this programme has helped local ethnic minority people overcome difficulties in their life.
In order to continue implementing the programme effectively in 2023 and the following years, the office has advised the district People's Committee to develop a plan and try to address relevant documents and procedures as soon as possible, thus speeding up the disbursement of capital for specific projects, he said.
Attention has been paid to communication activities to pupularise the Party's guidelines, the State's policies and laws on ethnic affairs, and the programme, thus creating a consensus in implementing the programme, he stated.
As a result, the poverty rate of Mai Chau district has averagely decreased by 3% per year and essential infrastructure works serving transport, education, and health care, as well as electricity and water facilities, have been developed concertedly./.
Over recent years, the Farmers' Union of Mai Chau district has implemented numerous specific programmes and activities to support its members in developing products under the One Commune One (OCOP) programme. These efforts have contributed to enhancing local agricultural branding, increasing goods value, and improving incomes and living standards for residents.
Since 2022, the Hoa Binh Department of Education and Training has provided advice for the provincial People's Committee to issue Plan No. 219/KH-UBND on November 17, 2022, which outlines the implementation of a project titled "Enhancing the application of Information Technology (IT) and Digital Transformation in Education and Training for the 2022–2025 period, with a vision to 2030.” As of now, the local education sector has made significant progress in IT adoption and digital transformation.
Hoa Binh allocated over 30 trillion VND (nearly 1.18 billion USD) to develop infrastructure systems in ethnic minority and mountainous areas during 2019 - 2024. Priority was given to transport and irrigation infrastructure; markets; schools; medical stations; communal houses; and power grid, telecommunication, radio, and television systems.
The Hoa Binh provincial organising committee for anniversary activities on December 17 held a ceremony to unveil a ceramic mural on the local military-civilian ties and release a book on the Party and political work of the provincial armed forces during 1947 – 2024, in commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA) and 35th anniversary of the All-People Defence Festival.
In recent years, Hoa Binh has allocated significant resources to foster cooperative economy, helping ethnic minorities capitalise on their potential and advantages to escape poverty.
As a mountainous district still facing numerous challenges, Da Bac has made notable progress in advancing administrative reforms across various areas. The district has prioritised reorganising and streamlining its administrative apparatus, operating "one-stop-shop” units, and applying information technology (IT) in the handling of administrative procedures. Efforts have also been directed toward upgrading infrastructure and equipment to enhance service quality for residents and businesses.