A workshop on promoting poverty reduction for ethnic minority groups in the central and Central Highland regions was held in the Central Highland province of Dak Lak on June 30 by the Committee for Ethnic Minority Affairs.

It was reported at the event that despite a rapid reduction of 3-4 percent each year in the regions’ poverty rate, the number of poor and near poor households, especially those of e thnic minority groups remains high.

Reports of relevant ministries, agencies and localities pointed to difficulties and obstacles in the process of implementing policies on poverty reduction for people from ethnic minority groups in the regions.

Participants underlined the need to put forth consistent policies to raise efficiency of poverty reduction programmes. They also made detailed recommendations about what the localities in the regions should do to help their people escape from poverty sustainably.

The central and central highlands regions have received considerable attention of the Party and State, benefiting from important policies and programmes to foster socio-economic development in areas inhabited by ethnic minority groups in general and those designed specifically for the two regions in particular.

The policies include the Prime Minister’s Programme 755 on providing housing and farming land and clean water for poor ethnic minority households and Programme 135 on supporting socio-economic development in poorest communes and villages.-VNA