Deputy PM: Ethnic minority work achieves significant achievements

All communes with ethnic minority have had primary schools. (Source: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh praised localities, ministries, and agencies on their efforts to help change ethnic minority-areas nationwide.

A report at a meeting discussing government Decree No 05/2011/ND-CP on ethnic minority work, indicated that all communes have primary schools and secondary schools and nursery schools have become more available in remote areas.

By 2013, 80 percent of hamlets and villages had medical workers and 75 percent of communes had doctors.

Investments have been made in communications with 98 percent of communes having public phone services.

Speaking at the meeting, Deputy PM Truong Hoa Binh affirmed over the five-year implementation of the decree, ministries and agencies have advised the government on issuing and revising policies on ethnic minorities.

The policies have changed many ethnic minority-inhabited areas and the material and spiritual life of ethnic groups, especially in remote areas, has improved. The rate of poor households has plummeted, while defence-security and social order has been ensured.

The Deputy PM, however, pointed out shortcomings like the low rate of ethnic minority people among civil servants, a lack of attention to training ethnic minority officials and the modest number of health centres in communes where ethnic groups live.

The Deputy PM asked ministries and relevant agencies to coordinate in reviewing and revising ethnic minority policies.

The Committee for Ethnic Affairs needs to work with ministries and relevant agencies to research and build new policies for 2016-2021.

The Ministry of Planning and Investment will work with relevant ministries to issue mechanisms and policies to attract investment into development in ethnic minority-inhabited and remote areas.

The Ministry of Finance, meanwhile, was directed to work with ministries to ensure financial resources for implementing ethnic minority policies.

The Deputy PM also asked localities to prioritise resources and integrate programmes and projects in localities with ethnic minority policies, develop infrastructure in disadvantaged remote areas and issue policies to attract more resources to implement ethnic minority policies.-VNA