NA Vice Chairwoman Tong Thi Phong (C) speaks at the workshop (Photo: VNA)
Dak
Lak (VNA) - While the lives of people in ethnic minority
and mountainous areas have improved over the years, efforts must be made
to preserve their unique cultural identities, a top lawmaker has said.
Over
the years, the Party and the State have paid special attention
to development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas, Vice
Chairwoman of the National Assembly Tong Thi Phong said at a workshop on socio-economic
development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas in the Central Highlands
and central coastal provinces, which was held in Dak Lak province on January 13.
These
efforts have improved the lives of people in such areas, strengthened
national security and defence and raised the political position of ethnic
minorities, she said.
However,
the legislator said, these areas are still in difficult conditions and there
are big gaps in socio-economic development between regions.
Development poses
many challenges for ethnic minority areas, especially employment, poverty,
environmental protection and protecting cultural spaces aimed to preserve
the unique traditional cultural values of ethnic groups, she said.
She
emphasised that the Central Highlands and central coastal provinces have a
particularly important position in terms of socio-economic, defence, security
and environment for the country.
According
to the NA Vice Chairwoman, the approval of the Master Plan on
socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas in
2021-2030 and the passing of a resolution on the national target programme
on socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas during
2021-2030 are very important.
“It
is a driving force for ethnic minority people in the cause of poverty
reduction, sustainable socio-economic development in harmony with the overall
development of the country,” Phong said.
The
National Assembly on May 19, 2020 passed a resolution on the national target
programme on socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous
areas during 2021-2030, aimed at improving the livelihoods of ethnic minority
groups.
The
programme sets a target of doubling the income per capita of people from ethnic
minority groups in the next five years compared to the current rate from 1.1
million VND to 2.2 million VND (47-95 USD) per month per person.
By
2025, it aims to improve infrastructure, create jobs and address the pressing
issues of more than 16,100 households from ethnic minority groups and
disadvantaged ethnic groups.
By
2030, the income per capita of people from ethnic minority groups is hoped to
be raised to half of the national average. The programme also aims to cut
the number of poor households to less than 10 per cent of the total number
of households, with no hamlets or communes in extremely difficult
conditions and 70 per cent of communes in ethnic minority and mountainous areas
meeting new rural area criteria.
The
lawmaker suggested a number of solutions for ethnic minorities in the Central
Highlands and coastal central provinces to develop rapidly and sustainably.
Issues
related to land and employment should be solved to enhance ethnic minorities'
incomes, she said, adding that cultural and education development should
prioritise ethnic minority people.
Phong
said special policies dedicated to improving education among
minorities must be issued. She also mentioned the need to ensure
they enjoy free healthcare services.
It
is essential to focus on training human resources for ethnic minority and
mountainous regions, maintaining a certain rate of ethnic minorities among
cadres in those localities.
Participants
at the conference discussed several issues including how to secure resources
and supervise State budget investment for the programme. The perseveration of
traditional cultural values of ethnic minority people as well as how to deal
with illegal migration were also discussed at the meeting./.