Decision No. 07/2006/QĐ-TTg Approving the Socio-Economic Development Program for Particularly Difficult Communes in Ethnic Minority and Mountainous Areas for the Period 2006-2010

Pursuant to …;

Approving the Socio-Economic Development Program for Particularly Difficult Communes in Ethnic Minority and Mountainous Areas for the Period 2006-2010

PRIME MINISTER

Pursuant to the Law on Organization of the Government dated December 25, 2001;

Pursuant to Resolution No. 10/2005/NQ-CP dated September 5, 2005 of the Government;

Considering the proposal of the Minister, Chairman of the National Ethnic Minorities Committee,

DECISION:

Article 1. Approving the Socio-Economic Development Program for Particularly Difficult Communes in Ethnic Minority and Mountainous Areas for the Period 2006-2010 (Program 135 Phase II) with the following main contents:

1. Objectives:

a) General Objective: To create rapid changes in production, promote structural transformation of agricultural economy towards market-oriented production; improve and enhance material and spiritual living standards for ethnic minorities in particularly difficult communes sustainably, reduce development gaps between ethnic groups and regions nationwide.

Strive to ensure that by 2010, there will be no households in extreme poverty on the territory, and the proportion of poor households will be reduced below 30% according to the poverty standard stipulated in Decision No. 170/2005/QĐ-TTg dated July 8, 2005 of the Prime Minister.

b) Specific Objectives:

- On production development: Enhance skills and build new production habits for ethnic minorities, create a shift in the structure of agricultural economy, increase income, and achieve sustainable poverty reduction.

Strive for over 70% of households to reach an average annual per capita income of more than VND 3.5 million by 2010.

- On infrastructure development: Communes must have essential infrastructure facilities suitable for residential planning and production planning to effectively serve improved living standards and increased production income.

Specific targets: Strive for over 80% of communes to have motor vehicle accessible roads from commune centers to all villages; over 80% of communes to have small-scale irrigation works ensuring service capacity for over 85% of paddy fields; 100% of communes to have solid school buildings with boarding classes where necessary; 80% of villages to have electricity in residential areas; address and meet basic requirements for community houses; 100% of communes to have solid health stations meeting standards.

- On improving cultural and social life for people in particularly difficult communes. Strive for over 80% of households to have access to safe drinking water, over 80% of households to have access to electricity; control and prevent dangerous epidemics; increase the proportion of households with sanitary latrines to over 50%; over 95% of primary school students, 75% of junior high school students of age to attend school; over 95% of people needing legal assistance to receive free legal aid.

- On enhancing capabilities: Equip and supplement knowledge in specialized fields, poverty alleviation, raise legal awareness, enhance knowledge in investment management and management skills to fulfill tasks for commune-level officials and village chiefs. Enhance community capacity, create conditions for communities to participate effectively in monitoring investment activities and other activities in their locality.

2. Guiding Principles:

a) The Socio-Economic Development Program for Particularly Difficult Communes is a specific poverty alleviation policy for the country's key poverty-stricken areas. The program focuses investments, does not spread resources thinly, and accurately identifies the target as the most difficult communes and villages.

b) The State supports and assists through concrete policies, utilizing available resources reasonably in accordance with budget balancing capabilities.

c) Maximize the creativity, self-reliance, and self-strengthening spirit of the entire community and the internal strength of poor households to escape poverty.

d) Implement the principle of democratic transparency, strengthen decentralization, and fully empower the people to directly participate in the Program.

đ) Combine this Program with the implementation of other policies in the area; national target programs and related programs in the area, prioritizing investment for this Program.

3. Scope and Target of the Program:

a) Scope of the Program: Implemented in all mountainous and highland provinces; ethnic minority areas in southern provinces.

b) Targets of the Program:

- Particularly difficult communes.

- Border communes, safe zones.

- Particularly difficult villages, hamlets, villages, clusters, neighborhoods... (collectively referred to as villages) in Zone II communes.

From 2006, consider including communes that have not completed the Program 135 objectives in the Program's investment scope; consider adding particularly difficult communes and villages in Zone II communes according to the criteria for defining ethnic minority and mountainous areas based on development levels, and include them in the investment scope starting from 2007.

4. Main Tasks:

a) Support the development of production and economic restructuring, and improve the production level of ethnic minorities.

b) Develop essential infrastructure in particularly difficult communes, villages, and hamlets.

c) Train and develop grassroots cadres, improve administrative and economic management levels, and enhance community capacity.

d) Provide support services, improve and enhance the living standards of the people, and provide legal assistance to raise legal awareness.

5. Implementation Period of the Program: From 2006 to 2010.

6. Sources of Funding:

a) Central budget support for localities to implement the objectives specified in Clause 2, Article 1 of this Decision and allocated in the annual state budget of the locality.

b) Local annual budget.

c) Mobilize voluntary contributions in various forms from enterprises of all economic sectors, international organizations, and individuals both inside and outside the country.

Article 2. Implementation

1. The National Ethnic Minorities Committee is the permanent agency of the Program, responsible for:

a) Assist the Government Steering Committee in implementing the Program and take the lead in coordinating with ministries, sectors, localities to manage and direct the implementation of tasks and essential infrastructure development projects in particularly difficult communes, villages, and hamlets; train and enhance grassroots cadres' administrative and economic management capabilities, improve community capacity, and support services to improve people's living standards and provide legal assistance to raise legal awareness. Propose forms of recognition, commendation, and awards for collectives and individuals who have made significant contributions to the Program's implementation.

b) Based on the objectives and tasks of the Program for the 2006-2010 period, take the lead in coordinating with ministries and sectors to propose supporting policies to be decided by the Prime Minister.

c) Take the lead in coordinating with relevant ministries and localities to specifically determine the list of particularly difficult communes and villages to be included in the Program's investment scope to be decided by the Prime Minister; coordinate with ministries and sectors to guide localities to annually review and identify communes and villages that have completed their targets and are to be removed from the Program's investment scope starting from 2008.

d) Take the lead in coordinating with the Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Ministry of Finance to guide the management mechanism for the implementation of this Program according to the principle of decentralizing management to the grassroots level while simplifying procedures but ensuring strict management requirements.

đ) Develop an overall plan to implement the Program and annual implementation plans; guide localities in organizing the implementation of the Program. Organize inspections and evaluations of the Program's implementation in localities. Regularly evaluate the results of the Program's implementation every six months and annually, and report to the Prime Minister.

e) Take the lead in allocating central government budget funds for ministries and localities to implement Program projects, and send these allocations to the Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Ministry of Finance for consolidation and submission to the competent authority for decision-making.

2. The Ministry of Planning and Investment shall have the following responsibilities:

a) Coordinate with the Ministry of Finance to allocate the central government budget for Program projects and compile the capital allocation plan for the Program within its authority.

b) Coordinate with the National Ethnic Minorities Commission to detail the allocation of Program funds to ministries and localities.

3. The Ministry of Finance shall have the following responsibilities:

a) Coordinate with the Ministry of Planning and Investment to allocate the central government budget for Program projects and compile the capital allocation plan for the Program within its authority.

The Program's implementation funds shall be recorded as a separate item in the annual plan managed by the locality, to be used for the intended purpose, target group, and according to the plan.

b) Coordinate with the National Ethnic Minorities Commission to detail the allocation of Program funds to ministries and localities.

c) Take the lead in coordinating with relevant ministries to guide the financial mechanism for the Program's implementation.

4. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development shall have the following responsibilities:

a) Supervise and direct localities regarding agricultural and rural economic restructuring, planning, and construction of production infrastructure (irrigation, forests...).

b) Take the lead in coordinating with the National Ethnic Minorities Commission to guide localities in implementing projects to support production development and economic restructuring, and to enhance the production capacity of ethnic groups in communes under the Program.

5. The Ministry of Transport shall have the following responsibilities:

- Complete 100% of communes with roads connecting to the commune center.

- Direct localities to plan rural transportation networks towards upgrading roads to meet development needs.

6. Ministries and central agencies, based on their functions and responsibilities, and in accordance with the Program's objectives, shall organize, build, and direct the coordination of implementing national target programs in their respective areas to achieve the Program's goals.

7. People's Committees of provinces and cities under the Program shall have the following responsibilities:

a) Establish a local Program Steering Committee.

b) Organize the identification and selection of particularly difficult communes and villages based on democratic, transparent, clear, and fair principles, ensuring the correct target group, and report to the National Ethnic Minorities Commission for verification and consolidation to be decided by the Prime Minister.

c) Mobilize resources within the locality to implement the Program. Promote the people's right to self-management, mobilize and organize ethnic groups to actively participate directly in production development activities, construction, and utilization of communal facilities.

d) Develop a plan to implement the Program until 2010, annual implementation plans, and comprehensive and annual budget estimates to implement the Program, and report to the Provincial People's Council as required.

đ) Regularly report the implementation status of the Program to the National Ethnic Minorities Commission, the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Ministry of Finance, and the Government Office to promptly address any issues arising during the Program's implementation at the local level.

e) Be responsible for organizing, directing, implementing, inspecting, and supervising the Program's implementation in the locality according to the plan and regulations, ensuring quality, preventing waste and corruption. Bear full responsibility for the effectiveness of the Program.

8. The Government Steering Committee shall coordinate with central agencies of mass organizations and social organizations in mobilizing participation in the Program to achieve set goals.

9. Central and local mass media agencies shall have the responsibility to widely publicize to encourage society-wide participation, inspection, and supervision of the Program's implementation.

Article 3. This Decision takes effect 15 days after its publication in the Official Gazette. Previous decisions contrary to this Decision are hereby abolished.

Article 4. The Ministers, Heads of Ministries equivalent to Ministries, Heads of Government Agencies, and Chairmen of Provincial and Central City People's Committees are responsible for implementing this Decision./.