Specific programmes and policies issued by the Party and State overrecent years have vastly improved the living conditions of ethnicminority people in the Central Highlands.

TheCentral Highlands encompasses the five provinces of Dak Lak, Gia Lai,Kon Tum, Dak Nong, and Lam Dong, which are home to more than 5.5 millionpeople with 36 percent of them hailing from 46 minority groups.

The Party and State’s solutions to local difficulties includeProgramme 135 on upgrading infrastructure in disadvantaged communes andvillages, the Prime Minister’s Decision 167 on supporting low-incomefamilies with house building expenses, a policy aiding stability forfamers, and a rapid and sustainable poverty reduction programmetargeting the 62 poorest districts.

As a result,over 12,270km of roads have been built across the region, making allcommunes now accessible by car, said Vice Standing Chairman of theCentral Highlands Steering Committee Tran Viet Hung.

More than 2,260 irrigation facilities have been built with nearly5,000km of canals and ditches serving agricultural activities, he noted,adding that all communes have gained access to the national power gridwhile 70.75 percent of the households have clean water.

Hung also highlighted the improvement of educational and healthcareservices, vocational training, and job provision, as well as spirituallives of local residents.

He said the regionalprovinces expect the Government, ministries, and sectors will swiftlyeliminate overlapping policies and implementation management.

Relevant agencies should design more practical policies, especiallythose addressing problems pertaining to farm and residential land, humanresource training, employment, agricultural development, and thepurchase of farm produce, ultimately raising local livelihoods, theofficial added.-VNA