National Target Program 1719 in Kien Giang - Opportunity to develop ethnic minority areas

People’s lives in Thanh Trung hamlet, Thanh Hung commune (Giong Rieng district) nowadays are much more developed than before, rural roads are almost everywhere thanks to the people’s contributions. (Photo: Phuong Nghi)

Policy enters into life

Go Quao (Kien Giang province) is a rural district with a large number of ethnic minorities living, accounting for 34.6%. In recent times, the district has always paid attention to implementing policies for ethnic minorities, gradually contributing to reducing poor households, and increasingly improving their material and spiritual lives.

The appearance of Dinh Hoa (Go Quao district), a commune with over 65% Khmer ethnic people living, has changed thanks to inter-hamlet and inter-commune bridges and concrete roads serving convenient transportation for people. Electric lights shine brightly at night with the project “Lighting up the country roads”.

As a reputation person in the community, Mr. Danh Coi (Hoa Hon hamlet, Dinh Hoa commune) said: “The appearance of the ethnic minority area in Dinh Hoa commune has changed clearly, especially in rural infrastructure. Many concrete roads have been built connecting the hamlets, allowing cars to reach them.” Thanks to that, people’s transportation is easier, goods are no longer subject to price pressures like before, roads are clear, and newly built houses replace thatched houses springing up all over the village.

“Most Khmer people in Dinh Hoa commune have reduced poverty and are trying to become rich legitimately. We are very grateful to the Party and State’s support, helping us repel and eliminate the previous poor life, as well as create a joyful and prosperous life today”, he also shared.

According to Chairman of Dinh Hoa Commune People’s Committee Pham Thanh Hai, recently, the commune has utilized all resources to support Khmer people. The Commune Party Committee assigns party cells to closely manage and monitor poor and near-poor households to promptly provide support. In addition, the commune also creates a livelihood model, creating favorable conditions for people to borrow capital for production; mobilizes support for gifts and charity houses for families in difficult situations.

“The Khmer people’s lives in the commune are now prosperous, thanks to the effectiveness of programmes and projects, which have changed people’s thinking in production. Previously, the model of 1 hectare/100 million VND/year was not common for Dinh Hoa people, but now a few acres of land with such an income is not rare. That is also thanks to the local timely implementation of the Party's policies for Khmer people in economic development and enhancing living standards," he affirmed.

Thanh Trung hamlet, Thanh Hung commune (Giong Rieng district, Kien Giang province) has nearly 50% Khmer people, at one time it was the poorest hamlet in the commune and district, and people's lives were still difficult. But thanks to the persistent help of all levels, the hamlet now has no poor households, and the number of well-off and rich ones is increasing.

Ms. Danh Kim Tha's family (Thanh Trung hamlet) is considered by the locality to build a great solidarity house in 2022. Excited by this timely support, Ms. Kim Tha said despite working and saving for many years, her family still could not build an intact house to live in. When being supported with money to build a house by the State, they were on cloud nine. Now, they no longer suffer from leaky houses and failing columns like before and they can work and produce with peace of mind.

Mr. Danh Chach (Khmer) in Thoi Trung hamlet, Thoi Quan commune (Go Quao district), takes care of goats from preferential loans from the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies, helping him earn income and escape poverty sustainably. (Photo: Phuong Nghi)

Opportunities to develop ethnic minority areas

In 3 years (2021-2023), the total capital of the National Target Program 1719 allocated to Kien Giang province is over 446 billion VND, and 11 sub-projects belonging to 9 projects of the Program have been implemented. To effectively implement the Program, the province sets specific and clear goals, especially prioritizing extremely difficult communes to focus on key investments. Besides, the province mobilizes the participation of the entire political system as well as propagates people to join hands in implementing the Program. The province strives that by 2025, the average income of ethnic minorities will increase 2 times compared to 2020, reduce annual poverty by 1-1.5% and reduce 60% of communes that are no longer particularly difficult.

Mr. Nguyen Luu Trung, Vice Chairman of Kien Giang Provincial People's Committee, said that the Standing Committee of Kien Giang Provincial Party Committee has just issued Directive No. 16-CT/TU, dated October 10, 2023 on strengthening leadership in implementing the Program. All levels and sectors need to have close coordination in the implementation process, without shifting responsibilities; review project lists, prioritize them in terms of feasibility, efficiency, and disbursement ability to decide on timely adjustments; accelerate the implementation progress, without affecting the lives, activities, production and business of the people, creating high consensus among the people in implementing the Program.

“In order to achieve the above goal, the province continues to well implement the Party and State’s guidelines and policies, creating a breakthrough in comprehensive socio-economic development of ethnic minority areas. The province also does a good job of propaganda, dissemination, and raising awareness and sense of responsibility of cadres, party members, civil servants, public employees in the political system, union members, members of organizations and the people regarding the Party's points and guidelines, and the State's policies and laws on ethnic affairs and policies; the meaning and importance of implementing ethnic policies, affirming that great implementation of the Program is creating opportunities for development of ethnic minority areas," he said.

With the effective implementation of ethnic policies, the Party and State have affirmed their concern for the development of ethnic minorities. The appearance of areas where many ethnic minorities live has changed, people feel more rest assured working, producing, developing the family economy, building cultural life, and contributing to building a more prosperous village.

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