The poverty rate in ethnic households in the Mekong Delta province of Bac Lieu is cut down by 2-3 percent a year on average thanks to the implementation of State policies specifically designed for these groups, a provincial official said on April 2.

Bac Lieu is currently home to the Kinh, Khmer and Hoa (Chinese) ethnic groups with the Khmer and Hoa numbering over 110,000, or 10.2 percent of the local population.

Policies designed for ethnic groups, including those on residential land, production land, vocational training, and health insurance, have been strongly implemented, Vice Chairwoman of the provincial People’s Committee Le Thi Ai Nam reported at a working session with Minister-Chairman of the Government’s Committee for Ethnic Affairs Giang Seo Phu.

All poor and near-poor households have been provided health insurance cards and benefited from preferential treatments as stipulated in the State’s regulations, she added.

The official asked the Government to increase financial assistance for the implementation of ethnic minority policies and provide special policies on tax, credit, and craft villages so as to attract investment and create jobs for ethnic workers.

Speaking highly of Bac Lieu’s achievements in ethnic minority affairs, Minister-Chairman Phu pointed out the life of local ethnic minority people still face an array of difficulties.

He told the province to make thorough surveys of poverty-stricken families so as to work out appropriate measures to rapidly reduce poverty in the ethnic minority community.-VNA