Son La: Completing infrastructure, creating growth momentum for particularly difficult areas

The national target program for socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas for the period 2021 - 2030 (National Target Program 1719) is gradually completing infrastructure, creating momentum for socio-economic development for communes in region III of Son La province. Infrastructure in particularly difficult areas has been invested synchronously, promoting the progress of new rural construction, making an important contribution to the province achieving and exceeding many socio-economic targets in 2024. To realize the Resolution of the Executive Committee of the Quang Ninh Provincial Party Committee on socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas, not only are the ethnic support policies and investments of the State and local authorities being implemented synchronously and effectively... but there are also efforts from the people, especially the role of prestigious people in the community. They are like the "big trees" of the village, devoted to the work of the community every day and taking the lead in emulation movements at the grassroots level for people to follow... In 10 years of formation and development, the border district of Ia H'Drai (Kon Tum) has been converged by many cultural sources, from which many rich and diverse folk cultural forms have been formed and developed, bearing the unique characteristics of 8 ethnic groups living together. Participating in the 2nd Gong and Xoang Festival of ethnic minorities in Kon Tum province, the artisans of Ia Dal commune, Ia H'Drai district performed an art program with the theme "Colors of Thai culture" and made a good impression on friends and tourists from near and far. Thanks to the effective implementation of ethnic programs and policies, in recent years, the socio-economic situation of ethnic minority and mountainous areas of Quang Nam province has improved a lot. Economic development and social security indicators in ethnic minority and remote areas have been significantly improved. On the evening of December 14, in Ha Long City, the People's Committee of Quang Ninh province held a ceremony to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Ha Long Bay being recognized by UNESCO as a World Natural Heritage for the first time (December 17, 1994 - December 17, 2024). In recent years, Quang Nam province has focused on fully and effectively implementing ethnic programs and policies, helping the ethnic minority and mountainous areas of the province to have significant changes. In particular, since the implementation of the National Target Program on Socio-Economic Development of Ethnic Minority and Mountainous Areas (National Target Program 1719), it has been considered one of the important levers in shortening the gap between mountainous and lowland areas. Reporter of Ethnic and Development Newspaper had an interview with Mr. Ha Ra Dieu, Deputy Head of the Ethnic Committee of Quang Nam province about this issue. On the evening of December 14, Kon Tum Provincial People's Committee held the Closing Ceremony of the 5th Kon Tum Provincial Culture - Tourism Week and the 2nd Kon Tum Province Gong and Xoang Festival in 2024. With determination, daring to think, daring to do clean agriculture, Ms. Thi Khui, 40 years old, Mnong ethnic group, in Dong Nai commune, Bu Dang district, Binh Phuoc province, established the Trang Co Bu Lach Organic Cashew Agricultural Cooperative (Cooperative). The Cooperative has gathered people with the same determination to build a chain of links and consume cashews for local people. General news of Ethnic and Development Newspaper. The morning news of December 14, has the following notable information: 2 more national intangible cultural heritages in Binh Dinh. Bringing Oriental medicine into tourism products. Artisans devote their youth to preserving Then heritage. Along with other current news in ethnic minority and mountainous areas. To realize the Resolution of the Quang Ninh Provincial Party Committee on socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas, not only are the ethnic support policies and investments of the State and local authorities being implemented synchronously and effectively... but there are also efforts from the people, especially the role of prestigious people in the community. They are like the "tall trees" of the village, devoted to the work of the community every day and taking the lead in emulation movements at the grassroots level for people to follow... Passing the winding roads around dangerous passes, towering mountains, the land of Quan Ba ​​( Ha Giang ) appears before the eyes of tourists as a unique, colorful picture of terrain, mountains, villages and customs, practices, attractive stops, meeting the needs of exploring the wild, remote lands of tourists from all over. Son Duong district (Tuyen Quang province), is home to 19 ethnic minorities, with rich and diverse cultural characteristics. However, the living conditions of ethnic minorities and mountainous areas are still difficult, especially in terms of infrastructure and income. Faced with this situation, the National Target Programs (NTPs) for socio-economic development have been implemented and promoted effectively, bringing positive changes to the material and spiritual life of the people. On December 14, the Ethnic Minority Committee of Ca Mau province coordinated with the Provincial Boarding School for Ethnic Minorities to organize the contest "Learning about the provisions of the law on early marriage and consanguineous marriage in 2024". According to the report at the 24th Session of the People's Council of Bac Ninh province (term XIX), Bac Ninh province achieved 17/17 socio-economic targets, with the total product in the area (GRDP) increasing by 6.03% compared to 2023. In particular, trade and service activities developed well, tourism revenue increased by 50%; state budget revenue increased by 13.92%; foreign investment attraction reached over 4.8 billion USD, ranking first in the country.

Chieng Dong Secondary School, Yen Chau district, was built from capital from Program 1719.

"Leverage" for poor communes

Chieng Khay is one of the four communes in area III of Quynh Nhai district in the period of 2021 - 2025 according to Decision No. 861/QD-TTg. The whole commune has 1,586 households, 100% of which are ethnic minorities, living in 11 villages, of which 10 are in extremely difficult situations.

With that starting point, Quynh Nhai district’s efforts to bring Chieng Khay commune to the “finish line” of new rural areas (NTM) by the end of 2024 can be considered a difficult goal. Previously, Chieng Khay also set a goal of reaching the NTM by 2022, but failed to achieve it.

The year 2024 has marked a breakthrough for Chieng Khay in building a new rural area. In May 2024, the commune had only achieved 13/19 criteria and 45/57 targets, but by November 2024, Chieng Khay had completed 8/19 criteria and 56/57 targets for a new rural area; the remaining income criterion is expected to be achieved by the end of this year to "finish" the new rural area on schedule.

According to Decision No. 861/QD-TTg dated June 4, 2021, in the period of 2021 - 2025, Son La province has 126 communes in region III. By early 2024, the whole province has reduced 10 communes in region III and 171 extremely difficult villages; it is expected that by the end of 2024, 8 more communes will escape poverty when they "reach the finish line" of the new rural area.

According to Mr. Bui Dinh Hai, Chairman of the People's Committee of Chieng Khay commune, one of the driving forces promoting the progress of building new rural areas in the commune is the investment and support resources of the National Target Program 1719.

From the budget and people's contributions, in 2024, the commune concreted 21 rural traffic routes; allocated capital to build centralized domestic water works; repaired and upgraded irrigation works, domestic water works, village cultural houses..., contributing to completing rural infrastructure.

Chieng Khay is one of 202 communes in ethnic minority and mountainous areas in the period of 2021 - 2025 and is one of 126 communes in region III of Son La province that benefit from investment and support resources from the National Target Program 1719. The program's resources have made an important contribution to changing the face of rural and mountainous areas in particularly difficult areas of the province.

According to the report of the Ethnic Minorities Committee of Son La province, from 2022 to now, implementing the National Target Program 1719, the whole province has invested in building 743 traffic works, centralized water supply, education , cultural houses..., in especially difficult areas. In addition, ethnic minorities in the province have voluntarily donated land, directly contributed thousands of working days and materials to build rural concrete roads.

Along with the State's investment resources, the construction of new rural areas in the particularly difficult areas of Son La province has been and is being jointly contributed by ethnic people. (In photo: Women of Chieng Khay commune, Quynh Nhai district cleaning up the environment)

In 2024 alone, the whole province will invest in 2 standard commune health stations, 66 classroom buildings, 132 irrigation works and maintain 291 works in especially difficult areas of ethnic minority and mountainous areas of the province.

Thanks to that, 100% of communes in the province have paved roads to the commune center; the number of villages and hamlets with car roads to the center has reached 85%. It is expected that by the end of 2024, the whole province will have 74 communes meeting the new rural standards, an increase of 33 communes compared to 2019; of which 10 are advanced new rural communes.

Growth drivers

Development in particularly difficult areas has been making important contributions to the growth of Son La province. The report of the Provincial People's Committee at the 10th session of the Son La Provincial People's Council on December 5, 2024 showed that the province completed, achieved and exceeded 25/28 socio-economic targets in 2024.

Also according to the report of the People's Committee of Son La province, in 2024, in the context of many difficulties, the Party Committee, government and people of all ethnic groups in Son La province continue to promote the spirit of solidarity, proactiveness, creativity, striving to rise up, achieving many important and comprehensive results in all fields.

By November 2024, Chieng Khay had completed 8/19 criteria, 56/57 targets of the new rural commune; the remaining income criterion is expected to be achieved by the end of 2024 to "finish" the new rural area on time. (In the photo: The road in Co Nang village, Chieng Khay commune, Quynh Nhai district is concreted)

In particular, work programs in the province's particularly difficult areas have been implemented promptly and effectively, contributing to reducing the poverty rate to achieve the set target. Accordingly, the province's poverty rate will decrease from 14.17% in 2023 to 11.17% in 2024.

This is an important foundation for Son La province to complete the 2025 target of reducing the poverty rate to 8.17%. At the same time, it aims to achieve the goal of having 44% of the communes in ethnic minority areas meeting the new rural standards by the end of 2025.

By the end of 2024, the health insurance participation rate in Son La province will reach 96.1%; the rate of rural population using hygienic water is estimated at 99%; GRDP per capita will reach over 56.84 million VND/year.

Along with improving infrastructure to serve production and life, from the capital of the National Target Program 1719, Son La province has been investing in perfecting cultural institutions, contributing to improving spiritual life and meeting the cultural enjoyment needs of ethnic minorities.

The report of the Ethnic Minorities Committee of Son La province shows that in the period of 2022 - 2024, the whole province allocated more than 200 billion VND from the capital of the National Target Program 1719 to repair and invest in the construction of 191 new communal and village cultural houses; Thereby, increasing the rate of villages in the whole province with community houses to 92.43%, equivalent to 2,320 villages with cultural houses and traditional cultural and art teams.

That result contributes to meeting the needs of cultural enjoyment and improving the spiritual life of ethnic minorities; at the same time, helping localities complete the criteria for building new rural areas.

According to Mr. Luong Van Toan, Deputy Head of the Ethnic Minorities Committee of Son La province, the province strives to have 96.85% of villages with cultural houses by 2025; cultural and art teams, and traditional clubs operating regularly and with quality.

Pu Hao village cultural house, Muong Lan commune, Sop Cop district, is invested in construction.

To achieve this goal, in the coming time, the Ethnic Committee will continue to coordinate with the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism and districts and cities to direct the review and assessment of cultural houses in communes and villages in the area, and advise the Provincial People's Committee to arrange capital from the National Target Program 1719 to invest in building new, repairing and upgrading cultural houses in communes and villages.

"In particular, the province continues to give priority to communes that are completing new rural criteria, villages in especially difficult areas, villages with many ethnic minorities and those that have just merged," Mr. Toan shared.

In the 2021 - 2025 period, Son La province was assigned 6,154.924 billion VND to implement 10/10 component projects of the National Target Program 1719. In 2024 alone, the province's allocated capital is 1,560.02 billion VND (central budget 1,485.73 billion VND); of which the total allocated investment capital is nearly 916 billion VND (more than 872 billion VND central budget).

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Source: https://baodantoc.vn/son-la-hoan-thien-ha-tang-tao-da-tang-truong-cho-cac-dia-ban-dac-biet-kho-khan-1734172936334.htm