Prioritizing support for ethnic minorities in difficult circumstances in the period of 2026 - 2030
The Government issued a new Decree to identify and support ethnic minorities facing many difficulties, towards sustainable and equitable development.
Decree 255/2025/ND-CP issued by the Government is considered an important step forward in perfecting ethnic policies, clearly identifying ethnic groups that are still facing many difficulties and have specific difficulties in the period of 2026 - 2030.
According to the Ministry of Ethnic Minorities and Religions, the promulgation of this Decree aims to create a legal basis to prioritize investment and allocate resources to disadvantaged ethnic groups, contributing to shortening the development gap between ethnic groups in the Vietnamese community.
The Decree consists of 9 articles, regulating the subjects, principles, criteria and procedures for determining ethnic groups in difficulty. Accordingly, ethnic groups are classified as facing many difficulties as ethnic groups with a multidimensional poverty rate higher than the average of ethnic minorities nationwide.
Ethnic groups with specific difficulties are ethnic groups with a national population of less than 10,000 people, and at the same time meet at least one of two conditions: having a multidimensional poverty rate higher than the national average or having a population decrease compared to the results of the 2019 Population and Housing Census.
These criteria are built on official statistical data from the State, ensuring objectivity and transparency, helping to comprehensively reflect the living conditions of the people.
This approach allows the Government to have a scientific basis to effectively allocate resources, avoid spreading investment, and at the same time focus on supporting ethnic groups at risk of population decline or suffering socio-economic disadvantages.
The process of identifying ethnic groups in difficulty is implemented in three steps. At the commune level, the People's Committee organizes a review and statistics of the population and number of poor households according to each ethnic group, and sends the dossier to the provincial level within 15 days from the date of direction.
At the provincial level, local authorities synthesize, appraise and be responsible for the data, report to the Ministry of Ethnic Minorities and Religions within 30 working days. Finally, the Minister of Ethnic Minorities and Religions will review, compile and approve the list of ethnic groups that are still facing many difficulties and have specific difficulties within 30 days from receiving a complete report.
Decree 255/2025/ND-CP inherits the spirit of Resolution No. 120/2020/QH14 of the National Assembly, affirming the State's commitment to sustainable development of ethnic minority and mountainous areas.
The Decree takes effect from November 15, 2025, creating an important legal corridor for effective implementation of national target programs in the period of 2026 - 2030, ensuring that all peoples have the opportunity to develop, no one is left behind.
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