Nghe An ethnic minority community unites for development

Milestones through the ages

On May 3, 1946, President Ho Chi Minh signed Decree No. 58/SL on the establishment of the Department of Ethnic Minorities.

On November 3, 1946, in Yen Dung Thuong village (now Hung Dung ward), Vinh city, the 3rd Congress of Nghe An Provincial Party Committee opened. The Congress decided to establish the "National Minority Agency" to help the Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial Administrative Committee direct the mountainous districts and take care of "Organizing, educating ideology and seeking benefits for ethnic minorities". Thus, Nghe An is one of the first provinces in the country to establish a specialized agency for ethnic minority work.

Conference summarizing ethnic work and ethnic policies in 2020. Photo: Dao Tuan

During the period 1954 - 1975, the National Minority Department was changed to many names such as:

Provincial Party Committee's Ethnic Minorities Subcommittee, Ethnic Minorities Committee (1955-1959); Western Steering Committee (1959-1968); Ethnic Minorities Committee (1968-1975).

After 1975, in order to conform to the functions and tasks of each period, the Nghe An Provincial Ethnic Affairs Agency changed its name many times:

- Period 1976 - 1985: Mountainous Area Committee;

- Period 1985 - 1992: Ethnic Committee;

- Period 1992 - 2004: Ethnic Minorities and Mountainous Areas Committee

- Period 2004 - present: Ethnic Committee.

Nghe An is located in the North Central region, with the largest natural area in the country, with 16,487 km2; of which, the area of ​​ethnic minorities and mountainous areas (DTTS&MN) is 13,745 km2, accounting for 83% of the province's natural area. The population of ethnic minorities and mountainous areas is over 1.2 million people (accounting for 36% of the province's population). Ethnic minorities are 491,267 people, accounting for 14.76% of the province's population and 40.93% of the population in mountainous areas. Nghe An currently has 47 ethnic groups living together, of which ethnic minorities with a high proportion are: Thai (338,559 people), Tho (71,420 people), Kho Mu (43,139 people), Mong (33,957 people), O Du (411 people). The ethnic minority and mountainous areas of Nghe An province include 252 communes, 1,339 villages and hamlets, of which 106 communes are in region 3, 100 communes are in region 2 and 46 communes are in region 1; 1,182 villages and hamlets are in particular difficulty.

Road to Pu Mat National Park. Photo: Sach Nguyen

A land of rich potential

The Western Nghe An region accounts for 83% of the province's natural area. This is the main place where ethnic minorities live, work and produce. With a large and diverse forest area, Western Nghe An owns a biosphere reserve of the highest importance in the region and in the world.

Talking about the strengths of Western Nghe An is also talking about the rich mineral resources. In this area, there are 113 large mining areas and 171 ore points, many precious minerals such as: gold, tin, manganese, ... The mountainous area also has a dense system of rivers and streams, with its own characteristics of climate, soil, land and endemic plants and animals... which are very favorable conditions for the development of economic sectors from industry, forestry, agriculture...

Western Nghe An is also a place with ethnic cultural diversity. The cultural values ​​of ethnic minority communities in mountainous areas are also considered a form of intangible resources, which is the spiritual and humanistic heritage that is not available everywhere. In addition, according to incomplete statistics, this region has about 800 relics, scenic spots and over 1,000 artifacts, antiquities, hundreds of caves, archaeological sites, spiritual cultural destinations, festivals... These are favorable factors for developing heritage economy, green economy through developing environmentally friendly types, services, and eco-tourism.

Hang Bua Festival (Quy Chau). Photo courtesy: Nguyen Book

Many policies change the West and ethnic minority regions

Implement programs and activities ofEthnic Affairs DepartmentThe investment in the Western region and the ethnic minority areas is to concretize the policies of the Party and the State to positively impact to change and improve people's lives, create a solid foundation for the Western growth pole of the province, and contribute to the goal of bringing the mountainous areas to catch up with the lowlands.

The poverty rate of 11 mountainous districts decreased from 36.19% (in 2010) to 11.12% now. By 2020, 121/252 communes met the new rural standards, and 1 district-level unit completed the task of building new rural areas. 100% of communes have national grid electricity to the commune center.

After more than 5 years (2015 - 2020), implementing the socio-economic development plan, the infrastructure of the Western region with 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 is invested in and built more spaciously...

Turmeric growing model on the mountain of farmers in Pha Lom village, Tam Hop commune (Tuong Duong). Photo: D.T

Education, training and healthcare in the Western region have made remarkable progress. Along with the improvement of material life, the cultural and spiritual life of ethnic minorities has also been significantly improved. The effectiveness of the movement "All people unite to build a cultural life" and the construction of cultural institutions at the grassroots level has brought about positive changes, promoting good cultural values, towards a civilized lifestyle.

Up to now, the Central Government has issued 118 direct and indirect policies implemented nationwide; many policies have been effectively implemented in Nghe An province. From the policy for the Western region mainlydirect support to peopleSwitch to a policy of both development investment and direct support. The 2015-2021 period focused on solving difficult and pressing problems, creating momentum for this area to develop...

Need innovation to create breakthroughs

Reality also shows that although the life of ethnic minorities has improved significantly, compared to the general level of the province, there are still many difficulties, people have not created a stable income, and their livelihoods are not sustainable. Ethnic minorities live in areas with large forest areas but do not have a stable income from the forest, especially in areas with special-use forests and protective forests. Infrastructure is still lacking and weak, not meeting the requirements of rapid and sustainable development. Health and education have developed, but the quality is still limited. The fine traditional culture of some ethnic groups is being lost, especially writing, language, and costumes.

Besides, the labor force in Western Nghe An is also a difficult problem for the development motivation of the region. The labor force is still low-skilled and uneven.

Opening the road to Western Nghe An (National Highway 16). Photo: DT

In order for ethnic work to be effective and have a positive impact on the lives of the ethnic minorities in the western region of Nghe An, contributing to ensuring political security, order, social safety, and keeping the border peaceful, it is necessary to implement many fundamental and synchronous solutions.

First of all, continue to well implement the directives, resolutions and conclusions of the Politburo, the National Assembly and the Government. Especially focus on implementing Conclusion 65-KL/TW dated October 30, 2019 of the Politburo and Plan No. 222-KH/TU dated December 20, 2019 of the Nghe An Provincial Party Committee on continuing to carry out ethnic work in the new situation. Implement Resolution No. 88/2019/QH14 dated November 18, 2019 of the National Assembly approving the Master Plan on socio-economic development of ethnic minority and mountainous areas for the period 2021-2030.

The Provincial Ethnic Committee continues to advise the Provincial Party Standing Committee on ethnic affairs, thereby synchronously and effectively implementing ethnic policies and the National Target Program on Socio-Economic Development for Ethnic Minority and Mountainous Areas for the 2021-2025 period in the province.

Continue to promote propaganda and dissemination of legal education among ethnic minorities.

Focus on improving the quality of human resources in the system of agencies working on ethnic affairs from the provincial to grassroots levels in the spirit of Resolution No. 52/NQ-CP of the Government; continue to implement the Program to foster ethnic minority knowledge for cadres, civil servants and public employees.

Head of the Provincial Ethnic Committee Vi Van Son awarded Certificates of Merit from the Ethnic Committee to 7 groups. Photo: D.T

In order for the socio-economic development of the Western Nghe An region to develop strongly as expected, it must be placed in the overall development of the province, the region, and the country, especially in the context of the strong transformation of the 4.0 technology revolution. Identify areas with comparative advantages of Western Nghe An compared to other localities and provinces to call for and attract investment. Have strong enough mechanisms and policies to attract businesses to invest in the region, especially businesses operating in the fields of agriculture, forestry, and processing with high-tech, environmentally friendly products. It is necessary to build a long-term development program for Western Nghe An with a new model of developing a green economy; focusing on developing the heritage economy to exploit and promote traditional values, natural resource values, history, and culture in the area.

Strengthening the mobilization of people to innovate their thinking towards developing services and producing goods based on comparative advantages. In particular, regularly taking care of building great solidarity among ethnic communities; promoting the cultural and spiritual values ​​of each ethnic group while creating a common development space for ethnic minority communities. These are key issues for ethnic work to be effective, and for the lives of people in the Western region to be constantly improved.