The southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau earmarked 450 billion VND (20.7 million USD) to benefit ethnic minority groups from 2011-2015, the allocation of which helped effectively implement socio-economic development and poverty reduction in the locality.

The results were reported by local authorities at their working session with Minister-Chairman of the Government’s Committee for Ethnic Affairs Giang Seo Phu on March 7.

Minister-Chairman Phu hailed the locality for its effective implementation of ethnic minority policies but encouraged the increased focus on personnel planning.

From 2011-2015, Ba Ria-Vung Tau province improved the living standards of local residents, especially ethnic people.

Through the tireless effort of local authorities, t he proportion of impoverished households was reduced by 5 percent annually over the five years.

At present, as many as 99.67 percent of ethnic minority households have access to the national electricity grid, over 98 percent have hygienic water and 100 percent have health insurance cards.

The locality is working to invest in the construction of essential infrastructure facilities such as schools and medical stations.-VNA