(HBO) - The national target programme on socio-economic
development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas has
been implemented over the past two years in the northern
province of Hoa Binh, bringing improvements in infrastructure,
production, and social security in beneficiary areas.
Hung Thi commune People's Committee in Lac Thuy district uses resources from the national target programme to support local people develop apiculture and VietGap vegetable production.
Quyet Chien commune in Tan Lac district is a disadvantaged area with 90% of its population being minority ethnic groups. However, in 2021, the commune officially won the title of new- style rural area thanks to the maximum utilisation and effective integration of capital from support programmes including the National Target Programme for socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas. Bui Van Quang, Chairman of Quyet Chien Commune People's Committee, said that right after developing a plan for building a new-style rural area, the commune mobilised all resources from the national target programme on new-style rural area construction to invest in infrastructure. In addition, it used resources from the National Target Programme for Socio- Economic Development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas to support local people’s livelihood.
Besides Quyet Chien, other communes in the province have effectively used support resources from the programme. Dinh Thi Thao, head of the Committee for Ethnic Minority Group Affairs, said that the programme is an important resource that helps speed up the completion of the criteria for building new- style rural areas in ethnic minority areas in the province. Between 2021 and 2023, the province disbursed nearly 54 billion VND (2.27 million USD) to 10 projects. The province has been investing in 260 projects including 40 community houses, 103 traffic works, 13 roads, five markets, four schools, 10 water supply works, and five irrigation works; and supported people to build economic development models as well as invested in improving the quality of life of people in extremely difficult communes and villages.
By the end of 2022, the rate of poor households of communes in ethnic minority and mountainous areas decreased to 13.11%. Now, cars can reach all communes that have special difficulties; 97.89% of the schools in the areas were built permanent, and 99.84% of the households there accessed power.
The National Science and Engineering Fair for secondary and high school students was held at Ton Duc Thang University in Ho Chi Minh City from March 19-21 by the Ministry of Education and Training.
As women's participation in key leadership positions of Hoa Binh province is still modest while some women in rural and mountainous areas or from ethnic minorities face limited access to policies, the provincial Party Committee's Organisation Board has advised the provincial Party Committee's Standing Board to direct Party committees at all levels and localities to pay more attention to training female personnel and creating favourable conditions for women to take over leadership and management roles, thus addressing a shortage in the number of female cadres.
The Department of Education and Training of Hoa Binh province held a conference on March 18 to review the performance of the "Safe and Happy School" Project and set out tasks for 2025. The project, funded by the Taiwan Fund for Children and Families (TFCF), aims to create a safe, inclusive, and supportive learning environment for students. The event saw the attendance of representatives from the TFCF and 26 beneficiary schools.
With over 70% of their workers being women, trade unions across industrial parks (IPs) in Hoa Binh have been actively safeguarding their legal rights and interests while implementing initiatives to improve their income and well-being.
In recent years, the Hoa Binh provincial General Hospital has continuously innovated itself and improved the quality of medical services to meet the increasing needs of local people. With substantial investments in infrastructure and modern equipment, along with a team of highly qualified doctors and nurses, the hospital has gradually established itself as one of the leading medical units in the Northwestern region and a trusted destination for healthcare for people inside and outside the province.
From mastering the fundamentals of programming to achieving national recognition, the Programming Club of the Le Van Tam Primary School (STAR LVT28) in Hoa Binh city has made remarkable strides in the field of robotics.
