Vietnam May Cut Poor Households of Ethnic Minorities by 3%/Yr by 2025: Scheme

Vietnam will likely reduce the number of poor households of ethnic minorities by 3%-5% by 2025, compared to that in 2020, according to a draft master scheme on socio-economic development in ethnic and mountainous areas and regions with extreme difficult situations in the 2021-2025 period. Members of the National Assembly Standing Committee discussed the draft scheme at a sitting on September 18. Other targets of the draft scheme are to (i) reduce the number of especially poor communes and villages by 30% and 50%, respectively, (ii) concretize over 90% of roads in villages, (iii) build kindergartens, primary schools, secondary schools in all communes, and (iv) ensure 90% of commune-level medical stations meet requirements for check-ups and treatment under health insurance, among others. Among the 54 ethnic groups in Vietnam, 53 are minorities with more than 13 million people, accounting for 14.6% of the country’s population. Ethnic minorities are living in 56 of the 63 provinces and cities nationwide. (Nhan Dan, QDND, Bao Chinh Phu, Bao Chinh Phu, Tuoi Tre, Tin Tuc, bienphong, Vietnam Plus, VietnamNews, dantocmiennui, Quoc Hoi, Quoc Hoi, Dang Cong San, Dau Tu)