"Settling down" for ethnic minorities

(Baothanhhoa.vn) - With preferential interest rates and long loan terms, over the past 3 years, the housing support loan program under Decree No. 28/2022/ND-CP of the Government (Decree 28) on preferential credit policies to implement the National Target Program on socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas has been gradually realizing the dream of "settling down" for thousands of households in ethnic minority and mountainous areas in the province.

Thanh Hoa Social Policy Bank disburses policy credit capital to poor households.

It is known that the Housing Support Loan Program under Decree 28 is part of the preferential credit policy to implement the National Target Program for Socio -Economic Development in Ethnic Minorities and Mountainous Areas, allowing poor ethnic minority households to borrow capital to build new houses, repair houses or cover the cost of buying land with a maximum loan of 40 million VND, interest rate of 3%/year, within 15 years. The program has opened up opportunities to help ethnic minorities "settle down" when many old, dilapidated houses are gradually replaced by spacious, solid houses, improving the lives of many households from here.

Every year during the rainy season, the family of Mr. Luong Van Long, a Thai ethnic group in Quan Son commune, is always worried about having to evacuate the whole family to a safe place because their makeshift thatched house can collapse at any time during heavy rains and strong winds. The family is poor, so the dream of a solid house is beyond their ability. In 2023, with the help of staff from the Quan Son Social Policy Bank Transaction Office, his family was able to borrow 40 million VND from the housing support loan program under Decree 28. Therefore, in the face of urgent housing needs, he boldly borrowed more from relatives, along with the money earned from selling bamboo and reeds, to build a new, solid and spacious house. After nearly 2 years of having a house, he has felt secure and actively worked in production and economic development to have a more prosperous life.

As for Ms. Ha Thi Nhuan in Chieng Khat village, Dong Luong commune, she said: “When the Social Policy Bank supported me with a loan of 50 million VND with a preferential interest rate for 15 years, I was very happy. My family's old dilapidated house has been repaired to be more spacious and solid. In particular, in the first 5 years, customers do not have to pay the principal, which has created an opportunity for me to accumulate capital to develop my livelihood. I will actively increase production, work for hire to earn more income for my children's education and pay off the bank loan."

Mr. Tran Van Hoang, Director of the Lang Chanh Social Policy Bank Transaction Office, said: “The housing support loan program under Decree 28 is a major policy with practical significance, demonstrating the deep concern of the Party, the State, local Party committees and authorities for ethnic minorities with housing difficulties. This is a driving force to help people "settle down and work" to focus on labor production, gradually reducing poverty. After Decree 28 was issued, the unit advised localities to review and make a list of subjects in need of loans. After having the capital, we allocated it to the communes to support timely, effective and correct subjects of loans".

Implementing Decree 28, since 2022, Thanh Hoa Social Policy Bank has coordinated with the Provincial Ethnic Committee, now the Department of Ethnic Minorities and Religions, to organize a conference to coordinate implementation; discuss the organization of reviewing and making a list of beneficiaries, determining capital needs for this program. At the same time, it has issued an official dispatch directing affiliated units to coordinate with relevant agencies to propagate and disseminate credit policies to all levels, sectors and people; organize propaganda, training, and guidance on loan procedures and documents to socio- political organizations receiving entrustment at commune transaction sessions.

After more than 3 years of implementation, it can be affirmed that the preferential policies from Decree 28 as well as the attention and support of all levels, sectors and localities have helped many poor households and ethnic minorities in the province to have the conditions to build and repair houses to "settle down and make a living". This is not only a social security policy, but also a "push" to create motivation for production development, helping people to escape poverty sustainably. Hopefully, in the coming time, more poor households and ethnic minorities will have access to this loan source, thereby contributing to sustainable poverty reduction and socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas.

Article and photos: Duc Thanh

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/an-cu-cho-dong-bao-vung-dan-toc-thieu-so-260694.htm