NA Vice Chairwoman Tong Thi Phong (C) speaks at the workshop (Photo: VNA) Overthe years, the Party and the State have paid special attentionto development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas, ViceChairwoman of the National Assembly Tong Thi Phong said at a workshop on socio-economicdevelopment in ethnic minority and mountainous areas in the Central Highlandsand central coastal provinces, which was held in Dak Lak province on January 13.
Theseefforts have improved the lives of people in such areas, strengthenednational security and defence and raised the political position of ethnicminorities, she said.
However,the legislator said, these areas are still in difficult conditions and thereare big gaps in socio-economic development between regions.
Development posesmany challenges for ethnic minority areas, especially employment, poverty,environmental protection and protecting cultural spaces aimed to preservethe unique traditional cultural values of ethnic groups, she said.
Sheemphasised that the Central Highlands and central coastal provinces have aparticularly important position in terms of socio-economic, defence, securityand environment for the country.
Accordingto the NA Vice Chairwoman, the approval of the Master Plan onsocio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas in2021-2030 and the passing of a resolution on the national target programmeon socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas during2021-2030 are very important.
“Itis a driving force for ethnic minority people in the cause of povertyreduction, sustainable socio-economic development in harmony with the overalldevelopment of the country,” Phong said.
TheNational Assembly on May 19, 2020 passed a resolution on the national targetprogramme on socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainousareas during 2021-2030, aimed at improving the livelihoods of ethnic minoritygroups.
Theprogramme sets a target of doubling the income per capita of people from ethnicminority groups in the next five years compared to the current rate from 1.1million VND to 2.2 million VND (47-95 USD) per month per person.
By2025, it aims to improve infrastructure, create jobs and address the pressingissues of more than 16,100 households from ethnic minority groups anddisadvantaged ethnic groups.
By2030, the income per capita of people from ethnic minority groups is hoped tobe raised to half of the national average. The programme also aims to cutthe number of poor households to less than 10 per cent of the total numberof households, with no hamlets or communes in extremely difficultconditions and 70 per cent of communes in ethnic minority and mountainous areasmeeting new rural area criteria.
Thelawmaker suggested a number of solutions for ethnic minorities in the CentralHighlands and coastal central provinces to develop rapidly and sustainably.
Issuesrelated to land and employment should be solved to enhance ethnic minorities'incomes, she said, adding that cultural and education development shouldprioritise ethnic minority people.
Phongsaid special policies dedicated to improving education amongminorities must be issued. She also mentioned the need to ensurethey enjoy free healthcare services.
Itis essential to focus on training human resources for ethnic minority andmountainous regions, maintaining a certain rate of ethnic minorities amongcadres in those localities.
Participantsat the conference discussed several issues including how to secure resourcesand supervise State budget investment for the programme. The perseveration oftraditional cultural values of ethnic minority people as well as how to dealwith illegal migration were also discussed at the meeting./.
VNA
