Coordinate to promote socio-economic development in ethnic minority areas

The Provincial People's Council's Ethnic Committee and the Provincial Ethnic Committee signed the 2018 coordination program. Photo: Minh Chi

In 2017, based on the functions and tasks of each agency, the two sides coordinated to review, develop and implement legal policies on ethnic affairs; coordinate information exchange, training, fostering, planning and arranging ethnic cadres; coordinate to disseminate legal education among ethnic minorities...

At the meeting, the two sides also discussed many difficulties and obstacles in implementing policies on ethnic groups as well as the role of the two agencies in giving opinions and supervising the implementation of ethnic policies in the province.

Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Council Hoang Viet Duong requested the two agencies to improve their qualifications, professional capacity and have a common responsibility for the development of ethnic minority areas. Photo: Minh Chi

According to Mr. Luong Thanh Hai - Head of the Provincial Ethnic Committee, although the Provincial Ethnic Committee is an agency under the Provincial People's Committee performing the function of State management of ethnic affairs, in reality, there are many policies, programs, and projects implemented in this region that the Provincial Ethnic Committee does not know about and participate in.

Mr. Hai cited examples in the work of ethnic minority cadres; tree and animal development; labor and employment sectors; or hydropower projects and Mong village irrigation projects. According to Mr. Luong Thanh Hai, currently, out of a total of 52 policies related to ethnic minority areas, the Ethnic Committee is only assigned to directly advise on 7 policies.

These are the limitations in coordination to convey and put policies into practice as well as to monitor, synthesize and evaluate the overall implementation of ethnic policies in the province; thereby advising, proposing and recommending in an authentic manner to promote the socio-economic development of ethnic minority areas in the province under the functions of each agency.

Head of the Provincial Ethnic Minorities Committee Luong Thanh Hai shared the difficulties and shortcomings in implementing ethnic policies. Photo: Minh Chi

Also pointing out the limitations, Mr. Dang Quang Hong - Deputy Head of the Economic - Budget Committee of the Provincial People's Council said that the two sides need to coordinate in allocating resources and building effective economic models in ethnic minority areas. Some opinions stated that although there has been attention, the coordination between the two agencies in training and fostering cadres as well as advising the province on ensuring the proportion of ethnic minority cadres in state administrative agencies is not effective...

Affirming the role and function of each agency, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Council Hoang Viet Duong hoped that, based on current policy mechanisms, the two sides need to coordinate to grasp policies to advise, monitor, and urge timely implementation; at the same time, advise and propose to the province to increase investment and support for ethnic minority areas.

The Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Council also said that the two agencies are the focal points in advising and implementing policies for ethnic minority areas; therefore, it is necessary to improve qualifications, professional capacity and have a common responsibility for the development of ethnic minority areas, strengthen solidarity with the grassroots to promptly grasp issues to advise the province correctly and accurately on appropriate policies and guidelines.

Head of the Ethnic Affairs Committee of the Provincial People's Council Lo Thi Kim Ngan outlined some coordination contents between the two agencies in 2018. Photo: Minh Chi

At the meeting, the two sides agreed on the 2018 coordination program with a focus on advising, monitoring, and urging the timely and complete implementation of ethnic policies; continuing to strengthen supervision or advising the Provincial People's Council to supervise investment mechanisms and policies in ethnic minority areas. The two sides will strengthen their grasp of the basis, proactively advise and propose increased investment and support for ethnic minority areas.

The two sides also stepped up propaganda and legal education for ethnic minorities; coordinated to advise on the implementation of Prime Minister's Decision 402 and Circular 02 on cadre work in ethnic minority areas; strengthened coordination to promote people-to-people diplomacy and border protection, etc.

Nghe An ethnic minority area accounts for 15.2% of the province's population, mainly concentrated in 12 districts and towns, including 252 communes, 1,339 villages and hamlets; 27 communes of 6 border districts bordering 419.5 km of border with Laos. This is an area of ​​special importance in terms of national defense - security, protecting national border security and sovereignty.