Reviewing the report of the National Target Program for ethnic minorities and mountainous areas

Attending the meeting were representatives of provincial departments, agencies and branches. Photo: Le Thanh

The ethnic minority and mountainous areas of Nghe An province have a natural area of ​​13,745km², accounting for 83%, population 1,197,628 people, accounting for 41%, of which ethnic minorities have 491,267 people, accounting for 14.76% of the province's population; there are 24 border communes related to the implementation of policies for ethnic minorities and mountainous areas, adjacent to 3 provinces: Hua Phan, Xieng Khouang, Bo Ly Kham Xay of the Lao People's Democratic Republic. This is a locality with a particularly important strategic position in terms of socio-economy, national defense, security and ecological environment.

Deputy Head of the Provincial Ethnic Minorities Committee Luong Van Khanh reported on the results of the National Target Program on Socio-Economic Development in Ethnic Minority and Mountainous Areas in 2022. Photo: Le Thanh

The National Target Program on Socio-Economic Development for Ethnic Minorities and Mountainous Areas for the 2021-2025 period is implemented in 131 communes (76 communes in Region III, 55 communes in Region I); 588 extremely disadvantaged villages and hamlets.

Based on the directives and instructions of the Central Government, the Provincial Party Committee, the Provincial People's Council and the People's Committee of Nghe An province have focused on directing and urging sectors and coordinating with localities to implement the program; Steering Committees and Working Groups at all levels have been established and consolidated, promoting effective operations in management and operation.

Delegates attending the hearing. Photo: Le Thanh

The province has promptly issued documents implementing mechanisms, policies, guidelines and urging the implementation of the program. Departments, branches, and sectors in charge of projects, sub-projects, component contents and People's Committees of districts closely follow the guiding documents, direct and urge to implement the allocated capital; at the same time, complete the documents and procedures of the investment project portfolio to submit capital in 2022 according to regulations.

On November 18, 2022, the Provincial People's Committee issued Decision No. 3639-QD/UBND on capital allocation in 2022 (phase 1) for 166/316 project categories, reaching 52.53%. Regarding public service capital, only 11,730/302,432 million VND has been disbursed, reaching 3.88% (Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs presides). Currently, departments, branches and People's Committees of districts have developed plans and organized implementation, disbursement in December 2022.

Comrade Nguyen Thi Quynh Hoa - President of the Provincial Women's Union gave comments on disbursement of capital sources to implement the program. Photo: Le Thanh

The report clearly stated the difficulties and obstacles in the implementation of the National Target Program for Socio-Economic Development in Ethnic Minority and Mountainous Areas. This is a new program with many contents (10 projects, 14 sub-projects, 36 investment support contents); many focal points for presiding, managing, and organizing implementation (8 departments and 12 districts and towns), so the implementation of the program still has many difficulties.

This is the first year of implementing the program, so the guidance documents of ministries and branches are still slow; the participation of some departments, branches and district People's Committees is not really drastic.

Xieng Brocade Weaving Cooperative, Mon Son Commune, Con Cuong District is a gathering place for many women with experience in traditional weaving. Photo: Le Thanh

On that basis, the report proposes key solutions and key tasks to be implemented in 2023. According to the plan, the central budget capital in 2023 is more than 1,473 billion VND; of which, development investment capital is 632,118 million VND; career capital is 841,021 million VND.

Commenting on the report's content, delegates assessed: The report on the implementation results of the National Target Program on Socio-Economic Development in Ethnic Minority and Mountainous Areas in 2022 and the tasks for 2023 has summarized the implementation status of the program, accurately prepared data, appendices, and summarized the province's directive documents.

Comrade Tran Dinh Toan - Deputy Head of the Legal Committee, Provincial People's Council requested a report clarifying the key tasks of relevant departments, branches and localities in implementing the program implementation plan in 2023. Photo: Le Thanh

Delegates suggested that the drafting agency should analyze more clearly the difficulties and obstacles; the roles and responsibilities of departments, branches, and districts that are slow in consulting.

In addition to the proposal to the central ministries and branches, it is necessary to supplement the proposal to the province; clearly evaluate the documents issued by the central government that are still overlapping, have unclear instructions, and are difficult to implement, in order to propose the central government to amend; supplement the lessons learned section; further evaluate the dissemination and propaganda work; the feasibility of capital disbursement of some projects; identify the key tasks and responsibilities of 8 departments, branches, and 12 related districts in 2023, etc.

Representatives of departments and branches attended the review session. Photo: Le Thanh

The Provincial People's Council's Ethnic Committee requested the Provincial Ethnic Committee - the drafting agency to absorb the delegates' opinions to supplement and complete the report to be submitted to the 11th session of the 18th Provincial People's Council.