NA Council for Ethnic Affairs convenes 6th plenary session
VOV.VN -The 6th plenary session of the National Assembly’s Council for Ethnic Affairs opened in Hanoi on May 3 discussing a report on the Council’s socio-economic accomplishments last year and the first quarter of this year as well as tasks and state budget for ethnic communities and mountain areas for the rest of the year.
In her remarks, NA Vice Chairwoman Tong Thi Phong said the Party and State pay special attention to policies regarding ethnic minority groups. She appreciated the Council and localities in implementing Party and NA resolutions.
She asked ministries, sectors, and localities to improve monitoring of budgets and investment for ethnic groups and intensify security in the Northwestern, Central Highlands, and Southwestern regions.
Minister-Chairman of the Government’s Committee for Ethnic Affairs Do Van Chien said ethnic minority-inhabited and mountainous areas have faced numerous difficulties with a high rate of poor households.
Although 53 ethnic minority groups in Vietnam constitute nearly 14.2% of the national population, the number of poor people among the groups account for 51.86% of the country’s total figure.
The committee is to carry out a total of 15 programmes and policies relating to ethnic minorities this year, of which nine will be funded by the State budget, Chien said.
A host of credit policies have been implemented in ethnic minority-inhabited areas but loans are not enough to support business and production activities due to market uncertainties, council members said, adding that there remain limitations in policies towards teachers and students in these areas.