Maximizing the effectiveness of capital support for ethnic minority and mountainous areas

Capital is available but disbursement is difficult, this reality has affected the effectiveness of the implementation of the National Target Program (NTP) for socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas in the province. Regarding this issue, Quang Tri Newspaper reporter recently interviewed Mr. TRUONG CHI HIEU, Deputy Director of the Department of Ethnic Minorities and Religions (DT&TG).

Problems in disbursement

- Sir! Could you please tell us how the Department of Ethnic Minorities and Rural Development has made efforts to improve the disbursement efficiency of the National Target Program for Socio -Economic Development in Ethnic Minorities and Mountainous Areas in the past?

- As the agency in charge of advising on the implementation of the National Target Program on socio-economic development for ethnic minority and mountainous areas, in recent times, the Department of Ethnic Minorities and Mountainous Areas has actively presided over and coordinated with departments, branches and localities to implement many specific tasks and solutions. First, the Department focused on advising the Provincial People's Committee to allocate all capital sources assigned by the central government for units and localities to implement. The Department's leaders also advised the Provincial People's Committee and proactively issued documents urging the People's Committees of districts and related units to focus on disbursing capital sources; worked with the People's Committees of districts to remove difficulties and obstacles in implementing projects; organized inspections and supervisions in communes... Based on central regulations, the Department's leaders advised the Provincial People's Committee to submit to the Provincial People's Council resolutions to adjust capital from contents that are not eligible for implementation to other contents to promote the disbursement rate; improve the efficiency of capital use of the program; meet the essential needs of the people...

- According to records, currently, the disbursement value of capital from the National Target Program for Socio-Economic Development in Ethnic Minorities and Mountainous Areas has not achieved the desired results. Could you provide more information about this?

- According to the provisions of the Provincial People's Council's resolution on principles, criteria, and capital allocation norms, almost all development investment capital and most of the public service capital (about 70%) are transferred to the People's Committees of districts as investors and about 30% of public service capital is allocated to many departments and branches as investors. Therefore, the disbursement results of the program depend on many factors, related to the activities of many localities, departments and branches. The National Target Program on Socio-Economic Development in Ethnic Minorities and Mountainous Areas was implemented in June 2022. As of May 30, 2025, the disbursement value of the entire program was VND 710,725 million, reaching a rate of 57.95%. Of which, the disbursed development investment capital was VND 490,431 million, reaching a rate of 80.3%; Disbursed career capital is 220,294 million VND, reaching a rate of 36.08%.

- So, what is the main reason for the low disbursement value of capital?

- The National Target Program for Socio-Economic Development of Ethnic Minorities and Mountainous Areas is a large program, consisting of 10 projects and dozens of sub-projects. The project's components involve many sectors and localities. The workload is quite large. Despite many efforts in implementation, the disbursement rate of the program has not yet met expectations.

Regarding objective reasons, first of all, there are still many shortcomings in the preparation for the implementation of the program. Phase I of the program lasts from 2021 to 2025. However, it was not until mid-2022 that the program began to be implemented nationwide. It was not until 2023 that some important investment norms such as support for housing, land for production, centralized water supply, roads, markets, etc. were decided by the central government. In the early stages of the program, especially in 2022 and 2023, many mechanisms for implementing important contents of the program have not been fully, specifically, and clearly guided. Some contents have not been unified according to the instructions of ministries and branches; there have been many changes during the implementation process...

In Decree 27/2022/ND-CP on the management mechanism and organization of the implementation of national target programs, the policy of promoting decentralization and delegation of power has been clearly stated. However, in reality, localities have not been given enough authority to respond flexibly to difficulties and problems. Therefore, in early 2024, the National Assembly had to issue Resolution 111/2024/QH15 to have specific mechanisms to address difficulties in implementing national target programs. Some contents that account for a large proportion of capital in the program have had to be adjusted many times, so now there is not much time left for implementation. Another reality leading to difficulties for the program is that the land fund that can be used locally is quite limited. In many cases, people in ethnic minority and mountainous areas use overlapping land, do not have proper documents, violate planning... A part of the people are not really determined to overcome difficulties, still have the mentality of waiting and relying on the support of the State.

Regarding subjective causes, the direction and implementation of the program in some localities do not have key investment plans. At the commune level, some officials have not studied the documents guiding the implementation of the program in depth. The assignment of responsibilities, self-inspection, supervision, and comparison of the actual situation with the program implementation plan in some localities have not been focused on. Some departments and branches assigned to preside over the program, projects, sub-projects, and component contents are sometimes not proactive and flexible in guiding and planning implementation...

People in Dakrong district are supported with seedlings to develop the economy - Photo: TL

Implement "6 clear" in capital disbursement

- In the context of organizing and rearranging administrative units according to the two-level local government model and merging provinces, what solutions does the Department of Ethnic Minorities and Rural Development have to speed up the disbursement of capital from the National Target Program for socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas?

- In the context of many upcoming changes, the Department of Ethnic Minority Affairs has based on the central guidance, promptly issued guidelines related to the National Target Program on socio-economic development of ethnic minority and mountainous areas in the context of administrative unit arrangement. Based on Plan No. 99/KH-UBND of the Provincial People's Committee on implementing the transition of management of programs, tasks, projects, and public investment plans in the process of arranging and perfecting the organization of the two-level local government apparatus and documents of relevant departments and branches, the Department of Ethnic Minority Affairs has requested localities to speed up the implementation of the program; develop a plan to transition unfinished investment projects and career capital in the direction of ensuring "6 clear" including: clear people, clear work, clear time, clear responsibility, clear products, clear authority.

- Given that situation, what recommendations or proposals do you have for your superiors?

- Currently, the difficulties and obstacles in the implementation mechanism of the contents of the basic program have been resolved. However, the implementation time of the program in phase 1 (2021 - 2025) is not much left. In the context of the urgent work of rearranging and reorganizing administrative units, we request the Provincial People's Committee to direct departments, branches and localities to quickly stabilize after rearranging and reorganizing administrative units; focus on speeding up the implementation progress of the program, especially the contents related to career capital.

Along with that, the department's leaders hope that the Provincial People's Committee will direct localities to continue to review the current status of land use; direct the Department of Agriculture and Environment to preside over and coordinate with relevant departments, branches, localities and agencies to review the current status of land use; advise on policies and measures to implement Article 16 of the 2024 Land Law, in which priority is given to the work of separating, separating and converting to support residential land and production land for people... The Provincial People's Committee needs to direct localities to proactively review the subjects implementing the program, prepare orientations to develop focused and key investment plans on the basis of solving the most urgent problems of the people to implement the program in phase II (2026 - 2030). We hope that the committees of the People's Council and the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of the province will strengthen inspection and supervision work; Coordinate and exchange between implementing agencies and monitoring agencies to promptly advise on policies and take measures to promote the progress and effectiveness of the program...

Regarding the design of the National Target Program for Socio-Economic Development in Ethnic Minority and Mountainous Areas, Phase II, we propose that the Government and ministries and branches need to have a mechanism to strengthen decentralization and strong delegation of authority in the management and organization of program implementation so that localities can be more flexible in solving problems that are very diverse and specific; continue to review and perfect mechanisms and policies, ensure a suitable system of legal documents; prescribe a system of scientific reporting forms; launch and operate program reporting software to facilitate the work of synthesizing, reporting, managing, monitoring and directing...

Thank you!

Tay Long (performed)

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/phat-huy-cao-nhat-hieu-qua-nguon-von-ho-tro-vung-dong-bao-dan-toc-thieu-so-mien-nui-194480.htm