Hanoi blocking the development of women and ethnic minorities
Hanoi (AsiaNews) – Poverty, social discrimination but above all government attitudes prevent ethnic minorities, especially women, from developing their potential and leave behind the poverty which they seem condemned to. This is the charge made by non-government organisations dedicated to solving social issues in Vietnam. They met recently in Hanoi.
The country is home to 54 ethnic and racial groups, but the Kinh, who are 85 per cent of the population, represent the largest group. The other 53 groups are relegated to rural areas and earn a living from farming. Unfortunately, the government’s economic policies seem unable to help development, stuck in a time warp dating back 50 years.
One participant in the meeting said that according to government statements ‘its main concern is improving human development, cultural tradition, morality and social policies for minorities, the disabled and the poor. Sadly all this is true on paper.”
One of the speakers, Mr Dung, told AsiaNews that if “we want to work with minorities, even if only with the children, local authorities look at us with suspicion. They think we are involved in religious and political activities and do every they can to thwart us. They’d rather give government organisations a free reign even though the latter have neither the means nor the capacity to take care of the situation.”
What is more, “it is devastating to see how public funds for education are managed. A lot of money lines the pockets of officials in government organisations which end up forgetting the purpose of the money in the first place. Thus if they want to help minorities they should let other groups do the job.”
Finally, a volunteer, Ms Huong, said that “local populations are truly poor and this is due to several factors. A social structure that discriminates against ethnic groups and forces them to remain in ignorance and poverty is one of them. If the government really wants to solve the problem of poverty it must take care of the poor, especially help them develop their potential.”
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