Implement the National Target Program on socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas with focus and key points.

On the morning of June 29, the Ethnic Committee held a national online conference to review ethnic work in the first 6 months of the year and deploy tasks for the last 6 months of 2022.

Overview of Nghe An province bridge. Photo: Pham Bang

The lives of ethnic minorities are increasingly improved.

As of the end of June 2022, the whole country had 3,434 communes in ethnic minority and mountainous areas in 52 provinces and centrally-run cities, including: 1,673 communes in region I, 210 communes in region II and 1,551 communes in region III.

In the first 6 months of the year, the socio-economic situation in ethnic minority and mountainous areas has changed positively and in the right direction; social security is ensured, and ethnic minorities trust the leadership of the Party and State.

Cultural, festival and tourism activities took place vigorously, attracting a large number of ethnic minorities and mountainous people to participate, creating an exciting and joyful atmosphere. The political security situation and social order and safety in ethnic minority areas were basically stable. Ethnic people well implemented the Party's policies and the State's laws and policies.

Comrade Bui Dinh Long - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee chaired the Nghe An bridge point. Photo: Pham Bang

Ethnic policies are implemented around the following contents: National Target Program on Socio-Economic Development in Ethnic Minority and Mountainous Areas for the 2021-2030 Period; Project on Ethnic Knowledge Training for Officials, Civil Servants and Public Employees for the 2018-2025 Period; Policy for Prestigious People; Project on Reducing Child Marriage and Consanguineous Marriage in Ethnic Minority Areas for the 2015-2025 Period; Project on Supporting Gender Equality Activities in Ethnic Minority Areas; Project on Strengthening International Cooperation to Support Socio-Economic Development in Ethnic Minority Areas by 2025.

In addition, 19 localities have issued 55 specific policies related to areas such as: agricultural production development; preserving and promoting national cultural identity; creating and developing human resources... The policies issued by the provinces aim to support the material and spiritual life of the people, ensure social security and equal development among regions and ethnic groups in the province.

At the conference, localities of Hoa Binh, Lao Cai, Quang Nam, Tuyen Quang, Thanh Hoa, Bac Kan, Soc Trang... reported outstanding results in the first 6 months of the year; raised many difficulties and obstacles in implementing policies on ethnic affairs.

Delegates attending the conference. Photo: Pham Bang

The representative of the Ministry of Information and Communications presented the National Digital Transformation Program and requested the Ethnic Minorities sector to strengthen propaganda work to raise awareness and actions on digital transformation for ethnic minorities.

Implement national target programs with the highest efficiency

Concluding the conference, Comrade Hau A Lenh - Minister, Chairman of the Ethnic Minorities Committee emphasized a number of key tasks in the last 6 months of 2022. Regarding ethnic affairs and ethnic policies, ethnic affairs agencies at all levels focus on thoroughly grasping and implementing the policies of the Party, National Assembly, Government, Prime Minister, and Ethnic Minorities Committee related to ethnic affairs. Grasp the living conditions of people in ethnic minority areas, promptly advise local Party committees and authorities on handling and ensuring people's security.

Pay attention to perfecting the apparatus according to the projects and instructions of the Central and the province, ensuring the quantity and organizational structure, associated with training, fostering, improving the qualifications and responsibilities of the staff; promote the prestigious role of village elders, village chiefs, and prestigious people to strengthen the close relationship between the people and the Party and the Government.

Delegates attending the conference. Photo: Pham Bang

Strengthening coordination through regulations between levels and sectors on the situation of ethnic affairs and implementation of local ethnic policies in various forms in performing tasks. Coordination should avoid formalities, identify responsible persons, presiding agencies, coordinating agencies, and have specific products. Strengthening the organization and apparatus, closely linked to grasping the situation, synthesizing, analyzing, and reporting promptly, serving leadership, direction, and administration.

The Minister and Chairman of the Ethnic Committee also requested the Ethnic Committees of provinces and cities to systematize the digital transformation work; each comrade working in ethnic affairs must be imbued with the policy, fully aware, continue to research and study to put it into practice. In particular, special attention should be paid to the digital social pillar to better serve ethnic minorities.

The Minister and Chairman of the Ethnic Committee said that provinces and cities need to select investment portfolios with focus and key points, focusing on feasible projects. Photo: Archive

Emphasizing that the National Target Program for Socio-Economic Development of Ethnic Minorities and Mountainous Areas for the 2021-2030 period is a major issue of strategic nature, Comrade Hau A Lenh said that up to this point, the documents of the Central Committee have basically been completed. Regarding the issues that are not in line with the authority, the Ethnic Committee will synthesize and clearly answer the contents within its authority, and report on any contents that are beyond its authority and ask for solutions.

To ensure the progress of disbursement of public investment capital, the Minister and Chairman of the Ethnic Committee said that provinces and cities need to select a focused and key investment portfolio, focusing on feasible projects. There must be a specific plan, carefully review and thoroughly handle each project to achieve the capital disbursement target. Provinces and cities review capital needs for 2023 so that the Committee canThe Ethnic Committee synthesizes the report and submits it to the competent authority for consideration and resolution.