Over the past years, ethnic minorities in the northern province of Quang Ninh have enjoyed a range of preferential policies on residential and arable land and safe water, all intended to improve their standard of living.
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A family in Phong Du commune escapes poverty thanks to goat raising. (Photo: baoquangninh.com.vn) |
In Luong Mong commune, the most remote commune of Ba Che district, Mr. Vi Van Hoan, Vice Chairman of the Communal People’s Committee said that among 352 families totaling nearly 1,500 people, ethnic minorities account for 97%. Thanks to the preferential policies for ethnic minorities, their incomes have increased to VND13-14 million over the past 9 months with a reduction in the poverty rate of 2%.
In Phong Du commune, Tien Yen district, where nearly 98% of its population are ethnic minorities, the poverty rate was reduced to 24% with the average income of VND7-8 million per year. Many excellent models in agricultural and breeding production have been reported, including afforestation, goat and bee raising.
According to Mr. Lanh The Vinh, Head of the Provincial Board for Ethnic Minorities, since 2008, many programs have been carried out to eliminate poverty among ethnic minorities. The support and investment have doubled, making the infrastructure system better, including the well equipped schools and medical stations, as well as access to the national grid.
From 2005 to 2013, the province gave 2.2 hectares of residential land to 101 families, and 149 hectares of arable land to 763 families and invested in the contruction of 109 safe water supply stations.
In addition, the province offered exemption or discounted study fees and for 14,759 poor pupils worth nearly VND3 billion, while granting medical insurance cards to over 574,000 others.
There are 21 ethnic minority groups with over 143,200 people in the province, accounting for some 12.5% of the province’s population. As of late 2013, the poverty rate among ethnic minorities was reduced to 15.4% from 22.8% in 2011./.