Nomad settlement slows down

Ha Noi (VNS)– The settlement of nomadic ethnic people in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue has reached only 30 per cent of this year's planned target due to lack of funds.

The province has so far received only VND30.5 billion (US$1.4 million), about 21.4 per cent of the total scheduled budget, said the provincial People's Committee.

Under the plan, 1023 nomadic ethnic households in Nam Dong, A Luoi, Phong Dien, Phu Loc districts and Huong Tra town will settle down in 10 new residential areas.

However, only two out of 10 settlement areas have been completed. They provide accommodation for 291 nomad families in Nam Dong district.

The new homes have basic infrastructure including roads, water and electricity supplies, and schools.

Co Tu nomads who have already settled in the Ta Rinh residential area in Nam Dong district have received between 500 and 1000 square metres of land for household development.

The project helps the former nomads improve their lifestyles, eliminate hunger, upgrade their material possessions.

At the same time, it also helps solve the practice of cutting down trees for slash-and-burn farming.

According to provincial ethnic minority department, due to the lack of funds, some households were not provided enough land for their production at their new resettlements. As a result of it, these households didn't earn stable income and the poverty rate among these households were high.

The settlement work is scheduled for completion by 2015, says the department. This means that the province has to complete eight new residential areas for the remaining households - VNS