Promoting the role of influential figures among ethnic minority communities.

Competing to develop the economy and eradicate poverty.

In Na Tong village, Tam Thai commune, Tuong Duong district, many people are surprised by the rapid changes. From a poor village where people only knew how to cultivate fields year-round, Na Tong has now transformed, with many households rising out of poverty and high-income economic models emerging. To achieve these results, credit must be given to Mr. Nguyen Trong Tan – a respected figure in Na Tong village who actively mobilized the people to participate in economic development and poverty reduction.

In 2014, after retiring, Mr. Nguyen Trong Tan was elected by the people as a respected figure in the village. With his knowledge gained from many years of working in the locality, he has strived, together with the Party Committee, the Party branch, and the Village Management Board, to achieve the socio-economic goals set for the village each year.

Mr. Tan shared: “Thanks to the attention of the Party and the State, every year I participate in training courses organized by the district and province, and receive copies of Nghe An Newspaper, Ethnic Minorities and Development Newspaper… Through these, I keep up-to-date with the Party's guidelines and policies, the State's laws and regulations on ethnic affairs, socio-economic development policies, poverty reduction in ethnic minority and mountainous areas; current events… From there, I can effectively carry out propaganda and mobilization work among the people.”

Mr. Vi My Son, Deputy Head of the Provincial Ethnic Affairs Committee, shared information about policies regarding influential individuals. Photo: Thu Huong.

To date, Na Tong village has established a 2.7-hectare clean vegetable farming model with 20 participating households; increased the scale and total number of pigs raised for meat; and applied techniques to produce two rice crops on over 100 hectares, yielding high productivity and delicious rice. In particular, he has encouraged people to plant high-yield cassava, which has initially yielded high productivity; and implemented models for growing guava, dragon fruit, breeding fish fry, and fattening buffalo, cattle, and pigs, providing villagers with an income of 80-90 million VND per household per year, contributing to poverty reduction in the locality.

In the work of poverty eradication and socio-economic development, many influential figures among ethnic minorities serve as important supports for Party committees and authorities at all levels in disseminating information and mobilizing the people to implement the Party's guidelines and the State's policies and laws, and to participate in socio-economic development. These influential figures set a good example in participating in economic development; at the same time, they actively promote the application of science and technology in production and livestock farming, successfully building farm-based economic models.

Thanks to this, most families with stable finances and a strong reputation have supported and assisted many poor ethnic minority households, teaching them how to do business and produce, providing seedlings and cash to help them escape poverty and increase their income. As a result, by the end of 2020, the poverty rate in the entire province decreased by 2-3% per year; in particular, the average poverty rate in ethnic minority and mountainous areas decreased by 3-4% per year...

Implement policies effectively regarding people with prestige.

Nghe An province has over 3.3 million people, of which ethnic minorities account for approximately 14.7% of the total population; there are 6 ethnic groups living in concentrated areas including Kinh, Thai, Tho, Kho Mu, Mong, O Du, and some other ethnic groups. The province has 1,238 influential individuals, including Party branch secretaries; village/hamlet heads; intellectuals; retired officials; village elders; clan leaders; businesspeople, etc.

The inspection team checks the reception, storage, and use of Party newspapers by influential figure Lo Van Thai in Dinh village, Chi Khe commune, Con Cuong district. Photo: Thu Huong.

Over the years, influential figures among ethnic minorities have consistently done a good job of disseminating information and mobilizing the people, especially ethnic minorities, to implement the Party's guidelines and policies, and the State's laws. In addition, these influential figures have also effectively facilitated two-way communication between Party committees, government agencies, the Fatherland Front, and other organizations to understand the situation among the people in their communities, effectively implementing the motto: "The people know, the people discuss, the people do, the people inspect."

Reputable individuals among ethnic minorities consistently uphold unity within their communities; they cooperate with the police force to maintain political security and social order at the grassroots level, preventing the emergence of "hot spots." They work closely with the government to educate and mobilize the people to be vigilant, resolutely fight against and not heed the propaganda of malicious individuals; and together with the police and military forces, they build a people's defense and people's security network, maintaining peace and tranquility in their villages.

“Every year, the unit advises the Provincial People's Committee to issue decisions recognizing influential individuals, and simultaneously implements Decision No. 12/2018/QD-TTg dated March 6, 2018, of the Prime Minister on criteria for selecting and recognizing influential individuals and policies for influential individuals among ethnic minorities. The Provincial Ethnic Affairs Committee has chaired and coordinated with relevant departments, agencies, and localities to organize implementation in accordance with regulations; ensuring full benefits and policies for influential individuals in the province such as: providing information through conferences and training courses, distributing publications and books, organizing study tours; providing material support and moral encouragement; and awarding prizes...”.

Mr. Vi Van Son - Member of the Provincial Party Committee, Head of the Ethnic Affairs Committee of Nghe An Province

The delegation from the Provincial Ethnic Affairs Committee visited the frog, eel, and chicken farming model of the respected family of Vang Tran Nhi in Can village, Tam Thai commune, Tuong Duong district. Photo: Thu Huong

To acknowledge the efforts of influential figures in the community, various levels and sectors maintain the practice of organizing meetings, commendations, and awards for outstanding influential individuals. From 2017 to the present, the province has awarded Certificates of Merit and Commendations to 344 influential individuals at various levels. It is expected that in November 2021, the Provincial People's Committee will organize the Third Provincial Conference to Commend Outstanding Influential Figures in Ethnic Minority Communities and present gifts, commendations, and awards to 190 individuals with outstanding achievements during the 2019-2021 period. This will serve to promptly recognize, honor, and encourage outstanding influential individuals in various fields.