Nghe An Province Ethnic Minorities Committee held a discussion to celebrate 75 years of tradition

Attending the program were members of the Provincial Standing Committee: Nguyen Nam Dinh - Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee of Provincial Agencies; Vo Thi Minh Sinh - Chairwoman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Nghe An province. Also attending were comrades: Hoang Viet Duong - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Council; Bui Dinh Long - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; Kha Van Tam - Chairman of the Provincial Federation of Labor and representatives of relevant departments, branches and localities.

Scene of the discussion. Photo: Thanh Quynh

Positive changes

Over the past years, under the leadership of Party committees at all levels and the management and administration of local authorities, the socio-economic situation of the Western region of the province has gradually improved significantly. The material and spiritual life of ethnic minorities has been improved, and the poverty rate in the Western region has decreased faster than the average of the whole province.

On average, the poverty rate in the whole province decreased by 2-3%/year; in which the average poverty rate in the Western region decreased by 3-4%/year. In particular, in districts 30a, in recent years, the poverty rate decreased by 6%/year.

Western Nghe An is a land rich in potential and advantages. Photo: Sach Nguyen

Implementing the socio-economic development plan, especially the infrastructure of the Western region through investment resources from Program 135, Program 30a, New Rural Areas... and other resources has created important changes. The transportation system in the province continues to be invested in and built; irrigation infrastructure is invested in; the power grid system is continued to be invested in and upgraded; medical facilities are renovated, gradually meeting the needs of medical examination and treatment of the people; the school system and classrooms are invested in and built more spaciously...

Regarding cultural, educational and health care work, the Western region has made remarkable progress. Up to now, the number of schools meeting national standards has reached 61.8%. In addition, 100% of communes in ethnic minority areas have health stations, of which 92.2% of communes meet national health standards, and over 90% of health stations have doctors.

By 2020, in ethnic minority and mountainous areas, 121/252 communes will meet new rural standards, and 1 district-level unit will complete the task of building new rural areas.

Head of the Provincial Ethnic Committee Vi Van Son spoke at the seminar. Photo: Thanh Quynh

Many key programs and policies implemented in Western Nghe An

During the period 2015 - 2021, the Central Government has had 118 direct and indirect policies implemented nationwide, Nghe An province has seriously and effectively implemented them.

From a policy that mainly supported people directly, it has shifted to a policy that both invested in development and provided direct support. The areas and subjects in the policy system have also changed significantly, shifting to prioritizing investment and support for particularly difficult areas.

Turmeric growing model on the mountain of farmers in Pha Lom village, Tam Hop commune, Tuong Duong district (Nghe An). Photo: Dao Tuan

National target programs on agriculture, rural areas, education and training, health care, people's health care, culture, physical education, sports, etc. have created a relatively comprehensive system, serving the lives of ethnic minorities in Western Nghe An.

At the meeting, delegates provided information on the results of ethnic work as well as ethnic and mountainous policies implemented in practice. The conference also received information on the results of the province's socio-economic performance and current events in the province, domestically and internationally.

Improve the effectiveness of ethnic work

Speaking at the meeting, Mr. Bui Dinh Long - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee acknowledged and highly appreciated the efforts of the province's Ethnic Affairs Department in closely following the requirements and tasks set out, successfully completing the tasks. This contributed to strengthening the trust of ethnic people in the leadership of the Party and State, and strengthening the great national unity bloc.

Comrade Tran Quoc Khanh - Deputy Head of the Provincial Party Committee's Propaganda Department spoke at the meeting. Photo: Thanh Quynh

In addition to the achieved results, the ethnic minority and mountainous areas of Nghe An still face many difficulties. The material and spiritual life of the people in the highlands is still far behind that of the plains; technical infrastructure and transportation have not been completed; Western Nghe An is considered a land rich in potential and advantages but has not yet been actively promoted in socio-economic development.

That reality requires the entire political system to get involved and have solutions to concentrate resources on this area, in which the Ethnic Affairs Department must advise the province to effectively carry out this task.

2021 is the first year of implementing the Resolution of the Party Congresses at all levels, term 2020-2025; at the same time, it is the first year of implementing the National Target Program on Socio-Economic Development of Ethnic Minority and Mountainous Areas according to Resolution No. 88/2019/QH14 of the National Assembly. The Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee hopes that the Provincial Ethnic Committee will overcome shortcomings and effectively implement the Party and State's policies and guidelines for ethnic minority areas.

Comrade Bui Dinh Long - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee acknowledged and highly appreciated the achievements of the Ethnic Minorities Department of Nghe An province over the past 75 years. Photo: Thanh Quynh

The Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee also requested the Provincial Ethnic Committee to advise the Provincial People's Committee to fully prepare the conditions according to the Central's instructions on implementing the National Target Program on Socio-Economic Development of Ethnic Minority and Mountainous Areas according to Resolution No. 88/2019/QH14 of the National Assembly, ensuring the right subjects, right locations and in accordance with State regulations.

Proactively follow the goals and Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress and the Resolution of the 19th Provincial Party Congress to propose breakthrough solutions to create positive changes and better fulfill political requirements and tasks in the new situation.

Continue to promote administrative reform; improve the effectiveness of inspection and examination work; propose amendments or abolishment of policies and guidelines that are no longer suitable; supplement new policies suitable to the actual situation, contributing to improving the lives of ethnic minorities and mountainous areas.

At the same time, step up propaganda and mobilization work to help ethnic people believe in and comply with the Party and State's guidelines and policies; promote the role of prestigious people, revolutionary veterans and key cadres; promptly grasp the legitimate thoughts and aspirations of ethnic people to advise the province to promptly resolve arising issues.

Graphics: Huu Quan