120 billion VND spent on the project to support socio-economic development of the O Du ethnic group.

(Baonghean.vn) - On the morning of September 8th, the Provincial People's Committee held a working session to hear and give opinions on the project to support the socio-economic development of the O Du ethnic group in the period 2016-2025. Comrade Le Minh Thong - Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee - presided over the meeting.

Attending the working session were representatives from the Provincial People's Committee Office, the Ethnic Affairs Committee, the People's Committee of Tuong Duong District, and other relevant departments and agencies.

Scenes from the working session.

Comrade Luong Thanh Hai, member of the Provincial Party Committee and Head of the Ethnic Affairs Committee, presented the proposal.

Currently, the O Du ethnic group in Nghe An province comprises 179 households (856 people), accounting for 0.18% of the province's total population, mainly residing in Van Mon village, Nga My commune (Tuong Duong district). While the socio-economic situation in the O Du region has improved significantly, compared to other ethnic groups, there are still many difficulties and backwardness issues, particularly the risk of losing cultural identity and experiencing racial degeneration.

The Van Mon resettlement area in Nga My commune (Tuong Duong district) - home to the majority of the O Du ethnic minority in Nghe An province (Photo: Ho Phuong).

Based on that, the Provincial Ethnic Affairs Committee developed a project to support the socio-economic development of the O Du ethnic group for the period 2016-2025. The overall goal of the project is to eradicate poverty, improve and enhance material living standards, provide healthcare, improve the gene pool, and preserve and promote traditional cultural values.

People of the O Du ethnic group weave fishing nets (Photo: HP).

The goal is to achieve the average living standard of other ethnic groups in the region by 2025, and to develop Van Mon village into a cultural and eco-tourism destination in western Nghe An province. The initial estimated cost is 120 billion VND, including 108 billion VND from the central government and 12 billion VND from the local government.

Leaders of departments, agencies, and Tuong Duong district expressed their opinions on focusing on restoring and preserving certain customs, traditions, costumes, and languages, building relationships with the O Du ethnic group residing in the Lao People's Democratic Republic. They also emphasized the importance of developing education, integrating it with programs and projects supporting ethnic minorities, and strengthening coordination among departments, agencies, and localities.

Comrade Le Minh Thong instructed the Ethnic Affairs Committee to continue revising, perfecting, and specifying the contents of the project.

Concluding the meeting, Comrade Le Minh Thong requested the Ethnic Affairs Committee to continue revising and perfecting the project proposal, specifying the contents; the implementation process should be integrated with other support programs and projects, and the effectiveness should be evaluated specifically and objectively before submitting it to the Government for approval.

Cong Kien