Creating sustainable changes in the development of ethnic minority and mountainous areas of Nghe An

Steps from practice

Nghe An is a province geographically located in the center of the North Central region, with the largest area in the country. Of which, the ethnic minority and mountainous areas have more than 491 thousand people, accounting for 14.76% of the province's population. The 5 ethnic minorities with high proportions are Thai, Tho, Kho Mu, Mong, O Du.

In recent times, the implementation of policies and regimes has been paid attention to by Party committees and authorities at all levels from the province to the district and commune levels, with good leadership, direction, and implementation. Hunger eradication and poverty reduction has been focused on, directed, and implemented synchronously. The poverty reduction rate in ethnic minority and mountainous areas has met the target, decreasing by an average of 3.4 - 4.9% per year.

The field of medicine and public health care has received attention, facilities, medical equipment and medical staff from ethnic minorities have been increasingly strengthened, basically meeting the needs of medical examination and treatment for the people. The results achieved in terms of millennium targets have 11/12 targets met and exceeded.

In the education sector, 5/5 millennium targets were achieved and exceeded. Notably, the rate of ethnic minority children enrolling at the right age in primary school was 99.86%; the rate of ethnic minorities completing primary school was 90%; the rate of ethnic minorities aged 10 and over who are literate was 90.3%; the rate of female ethnic minority students in primary, middle and high school was estimated at over 80%.

The work of preserving and promoting the good traditional cultural values ​​of the people is closely directed by the Party committees and authorities at all levels. The rate of ethnic minority households meeting cultural standards is 90.7%; the rate of villages, hamlets, blocks and quarters meeting cultural standards is 82.2%; the rate of communes, wards and towns in ethnic minority areas with cultural institutions meeting national standards is 75.5%.

Regarding the mechanism of mobilizing, allocating, using and integrating resources, by June 30, 2022, Nghe An is one of the first 6 provinces in the country to issue a Resolution of the Provincial People's Council on the capital allocation plan and the mechanism of mobilizing and integrating capital sources to implement the National Target Program on socio-economic development of ethnic minority and mountainous areas for the period 2021-2025 and 2022 in the province.

The Provincial Party Committee, People's Council and People's Committee have closely and comprehensively led and directed all areas. Party committees and authorities at all levels have closely followed and organized the synchronous implementation of the millennium targets for ethnic minorities in association with the goal of sustainable development of ethnic minority and mountainous areas of Nghe An province from 2020 to present.

Thanks to that, many important results have been achieved, many millennium targets for ethnic minorities have been achieved, specifically 17/19 targets have been achieved and exceeded, contributing to achieving the goal of sustainable development. National defense and security have been ensured, the political system has been increasingly consolidated, the people's lives have been significantly improved both materially and spiritually, and great national unity has been maintained.

Continue to overcome difficulties to achieve the set goals

At the working session, Comrade Lo Thi Kim Ngan - Head of the Ethnic Committee of the Provincial People's Council and members of the monitoring delegation requested representatives of departments and branches to further analyze the subjective and objective causes of the existing problems and limitations related to the sustainability of poverty reduction work; capital disbursement; the process of attracting and supporting human resources training in the health sector; allowances for medical staff in villages and hamlets; the focus and key points in investment and vocational training; the implementation of national target programs...

Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Council Nguyen Nhu Khoi further emphasized the reality of child marriage; training, job placement, planning, and building of ethnic minority cadres. Solutions to ensure the proportion of ethnic minority cadres, civil servants, and public employees is consistent with the proportion of ethnic minority population in each locality.

Representatives of departments and branches received and explained the issues raised by the monitoring delegation. From there, they agreed on solutions to implement the set targets in the coming time.

Concluding the meeting, comrade Lo Thi Kim Ngan acknowledged and highly appreciated the achievements that departments and branches have achieved in implementing targets associated with the goal of sustainable development of ethnic minority and mountainous areas in the province in recent times.

In the coming time, the Head of the Ethnic Minorities Committee of the Provincial People's Council suggested that after the supervision session, departments and branches continue to closely follow the practical basis of each region and locality to ensure the implementation of targets in a synchronous and substantive manner, especially the implementation of Decision No. 1719/QD-TTg of the Prime Minister approving the National Target Program on socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas for the period 2021 - 2030, phase I from 2021 to 2025.

The Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs needs to pay more attention to the target of sustainable poverty reduction and vocational training. The Department of Education and Training needs to overcome 5 limitations and shortcomings related to the network of schools, facilities, and equipment for teaching and learning; the shortage of teachers at all levels, especially at preschool level; enhance the responsibility of families in accompanying schools; policies and regimes for teachers. Pay attention to life skills education, raise awareness among students about the harmful effects of child marriage...

The health sector needs to pay attention to disease prevention and control programs, health care programs for people, especially women and children in ethnic minority areas. Through that, sustainable changes can be created in implementing the set goals.