Amidst the challenging initial phase of administrative boundary expansion, Hanoi’s authorities have issued directives to ensure the comprehensive and expeditious implementation of ethnic policies.

Dong Xuan Primary School in Quoc Oai District. Photos: Tung Nguyen/The Hanoi Times

Putting ethnic policies in place

After the promulgation of Resolution 15, the socioeconomic development of ethnic minorities and mountainous areas became a prominent priority for Party committees, authorities, and the entire political system in Hanoi.

The Party and the Central Government's guidelines and decisions were creatively and flexibly applied in the city to fit the specific circumstances. To promote strong and comprehensive growth for ethnic minorities residing in mountainous areas, several particular processes and policies were painstakingly devised and put into place.

Nguyen Tat Vinh, former head of Hanoi's Committee for Ethnic Minority Affairs, highlighted the city's decisive actions, including the municipal Party Committee's thematic resolution No. 06-NQ/TU on the development of socio-economic areas for ethnic minorities in the capital's mountainous regions, and the Hanoi People's Council's allocation of substantial investment funds to support these communities.

In line with the policy of the Hanoi Party Committee and with the support of the People's Council, the Hanoi People's Committee introduced Plans No. 62, No. 166, and No. 138, which aim to achieve comprehensive socio-economic development for ethnic minorities and mountainous areas in the periods 2009-2012, 2012-2015, and 2016-2020, respectively.

After the Prime Minister issued Decision No. 1719/QD-TTg approving the National Target Program for the Socio-economic Development of Ethnic Minorities and Mountainous Areas for the Period 2021-2030, the Hanoi People's Committee promptly drafted Plan No. 253/KH-UBND to effectively carry out the program in the capital region.

Besides central and key decisions and plans derived from the overarching policies of the central government, the People's Council and People's Committee of Hanoi City have also approved several decisions and programs tailored to local conditions in order to achieve comprehensive and sustainable socio-economic development for ethnic minorities and mountainous areas.

The capital adopted Resolution No. 16 to carry out a monthly support policy for respected and reputable persons, Plan No. 182 to execute the ethnic work strategy for 2021-2030, and a plan to implement Prime Minister's Decision No. 2085, which approves specific policies to support the socio-economic development of ethnic minority mountainous areas.

The construction of an irrigation reservoir in Phu Man Commune (Quoc Oai District) helps meet the water demands for agricultural production and the local community.

Investing in infrastructure development

Nguyen Van Duc, deputy director of Hanoi's Department of Planning and Investment, said substantial funds have been allocated to improve infrastructure in ethnic minority and mountainous communes.

About VND2.4 trillion (US$101.3 million) has been set aside for this purpose under Plans 62, 166 and 138 of the Hanoi People's Committee. In addition, the Hanoi People's Committee has earmarked VND1.5 trillion (US$63.3 million) for the National Target Program on Socio-economic Development in these areas for the period 2021-2030.

"Despite budget constraints, the city remains committed to spending about VND975 billion ($41.2 million) to implement 89 key infrastructure projects to meet the needs of ethnic minority and mountain communities in the capital," Duc said.

In total, investment in ethnic minority mountainous areas in Hanoi has exceeded VND4 trillion ($169 million), he added.

In addition to the substantial funds from the city budget, Hanoi has asked urban districts to support the construction of 46 village cultural houses in the mountainous ethnic areas, at a cost of about VND92 billion ($4 million). In addition, five projects to upgrade the power grid for communes in these regions have already been completed, with an investment of VND101 billion ($4.26 million) by the Hanoi Power Corporation.

The business community has also played an important role in supporting these efforts. In addition, five ethnic minority districts have demonstrated self-reliance by allocating funds from district budgets to invest in improving the quality of life and socio-economic infrastructure in their respective regions. For example, Thach That District has allocated nearly VND72 billion ($3 million) for numerous housing projects.

The development of ethnic minority areas has been supported with capital from various programs and plans, especially the National Target Program for Building New Rural Areas.

The substantial investment funds mobilized from various economic sectors show the special attention and solidarity of the Hanoi Party Committee, the People's Council and the People's Committee to the comprehensive development of mountainous and ethnic minority areas in the capital.

The Yen Bai Bridge links the ethnic minority communities in the mountainous region of Ba Vi District with the outskirts of Hanoi.

More support to come

In line with the goals outlined in Resolution 15, the Hanoi People's Committee has promulgated and directed the implementation of specific plans, programs and projects for the advancement of ethnic minority areas.

Nguyen Nguyen Quan, head of the Hanoi Committee for Ethnic Minority Affairs, highlighted various support measures, including the allocation of farmland, housing and safe water to 1,286 ethnic minority households in mountainous areas. The city has also supported poor households in difficult regions and facilitated job transitions for about 1,000 households facing a shortage of productive land.

In addition, Hanoi has diligently implemented the central government's policies on education, training, health care, and social security. Substantial funds have been spent to support students from impoverished households in extremely difficult areas, he said.

Hanoi provides additional support for teachers working in mountainous ethnic minority communes, as well as a monthly allowance for respected and reputable persons in these regions, according to Resolution No. 16 of the Hanoi People's Council.

Deputy Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee Nguyen Manh Quyen stressed that ethnic work plays a central and cross-cutting role in the agenda of the entire political system.

"Other efforts have focused on examining, and supervising the implementation of ethnic affairs from the city level down to the grassroots," Quyen said.

Looking ahead, Hanoi is committed to supporting departments, branches and localities in mountainous ethnic minority areas to proactively and thoroughly implement capital construction and investment projects for production growth, he added.

This includes ensuring that centralized management is in line with goals, mechanisms and policies. They aim to implement decentralization in investment management through regulations, while ensuring transparency and publicity in the allocation of capital sources.

The active participation of ethnic minorities will be actively promoted and encouraged in these efforts, Quyen said.

(to be continued...)