IPP182 v.1 MEKONG TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT ETHNIC MINORITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN. March 2007

Transcription

1 Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Socialist Republic of Vietnam World Bank IPP182 v.1 MEKONG TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT ETHNIC MINORITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN March 2007

2 ETHNIC MINORITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN (EMDP) TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF ACRONYMS Introduction Project Impacts on Ethnic Minorities Land Acquisition and Resettlement Impacts Impacts on Ethnic Minorities Impacts on Land Impacts on Houses and Other Structures Impacts on Crops and Trees Project s Positive Impacts Legal Framework World Bank Policy Vietnam s Laws Socioeconomic Conditions of Ethnic Minorities in Project Areas Population and Ethnic Composition In Project Areas In Impacted Communes Demographic Features of Ethnic Minority DPs General Situation of Ethnic Minorities Land Holding Income Sources and Income Living Standard and Conditions Education Ethnic Integration Public Consultation and Participation Mitigation Measures and Development Plans Policy for DPs Losing Land Development Plans for All Ethnic Minorities in Project Areas Mitigation Measures Organization and Implementation Cost Estimates Cost Estimates Budget Monitoring Implementation Schedule Reporting / Documentation

3 LIST OF ACRONYMS DMS Detailed Measurement Survey DP Displaced Person (or Project Affected Person, PAP) DPC District s People's Committee DRC District Resettlement Committee EMA External Monitoring Agency (or Independent Monitoring Organization, IMO) EMDP Ethnic Minority Development Plan (or Indigenous Peoples Development Plan, IPDP) GOV Government of Vietnam GSO General Statistics Office ha Hectare HH Household HHH Household Head IDA International Development Association IMO Independent Monitoring Organization (or External Monitoring Agency, EMA) IWW Inland Waterway IOL Inventory of Losses IPDP Indigenous Peoples Development Plan ( or Ethnic Minority Development Plan, EMDP) MOF Ministry of Finance MOT MPI Ministry of Planning and Investment MTIDP Mekong Transport Infrastructure Development Project OD Operational Directives OP Operational Policy PAP Project Affected Person (or Displaced Person, DP) PDOT Provincial Department of Transport PIB Public Information Booklet PMU1 Project Management Unit 1 PPC Provincial People s Committee PPMU Provincial Project Management Unit PRC Provincial Resettlement Committee PSU Project Steering Unit RAP Resettlement Action Plan (or Resettlement Plan, RP) RC Resettlement Committees ROW Right of Way HHH Household Head RP Resettlement Plan (or Resettlement Action Plan, RAP) RPF Resettlement Policy Framework 2

4 RS SBV USD WB W/CPC VND Resettlement Site State Bank of Vietnam United States Dollar World Bank Ward/Commune People s Committee Vietnamese Dong 3

5 1 Introduction 1. The Mekong River Delta Transport Infrastructure Development Project (MTIDP) aims to improve the transportation system in the area. The project applies multi-procedure and synthetical approaches. The purposes of the project are to remove bottlenecks in key landroads and waterways, to transfer long-term planning tools to Vietnamese Government in improving Mekong River Delta transportation system, and to ensure that the Project benefits are equally distributed to contribute to poverty reduction. 2. The Project covers all the 13 provinces of the Delta. It is proposed to be implemented in Phases. The Phase I includes 5 subprojects of the road component (2 national highways, NH53 and NH54, and 3 provincial roads, DT884, DT04, and DT CN-CDV) and 1 subproject of the waterway component (Northern or Second Waterway Corridor), involving part of territories of 10 provinces of the Delta. An Inventory of all Losses and a Socioeconomic survey of DPs were conducted for Phase I s subprojectds to identify and quantify resettlement impacts, which serves as the basis for developing respective RPs for the project. The results of the IOL show that there are 4 subprojects that pass the ethnic minority areas and anticipate direct resettlement impacts on certain portion of ethnic minority households (HHs). They will likely impose both direct, negative resettlement and positive social impacts on ethnic minority DPs and their communities. These subprojects include: NH 53 (NH53-3/10) and NH54; DT884 and DT 04; and Main Corridor Although the road subprojects will mainly poses marginal resettlement impacts on the local communities, including ethnic minority DPs, the total number of ethic minority DPs impacted is considerable (480 HHs/ DPs with 2243 people). The most of them are located in Tra Vinh province. Meanwhile, the waterway subproject corridor 2 will only pose resettlement impacts on a limited number of ethnic minority DPs; 34 DPs in total, but due to its large scale of widening, many of them will be severely impacted. A number of special efforts were made during the project preparation, which should be continued during the implementation stage through improved designs, construction measures, and appropriate civil work implementation schedules in order to avoid unnecessary negative impacts. However, certain negative, land acquisition impacts are unavoidable. 4. In such a case, the WB policy on Ethnic Minorities (OD 4.20) requires a preparation of an EMDP for the Phase I of the project. Following the guidelines of OD 4.20, this EMDP has been prepared for all the areas that involve ethnic minorities within Phase I, including both the road and waterway components to ensure that: (i) the development process fosters full respect for their dignity, human rights, and cultural uniqueness, (ii) the ethnic minorities do not suffer adverse effects during the development process, and (iii) the ethnic minorities receive culturally compatible social and economic benefits. 5. This EMDP is based on the results an inventory of all potential losses caused by the MTIDP and a household socioeconomic survey of 10% of the ethnic minority DPs, reviews of secondary literature related to ethnic minorities in the proposed project areas, and intensive stakeholders consultations, including interviews and group discussions with local authorities at different levels and with ethnic minorities. The consultants have conducted special group discussions, group interviews, household interviews, and community consultations with Khmer and Hoa ethnic minorities, to assess the Project s social impacts and to prepare this EMDP. 4

6 2 Project Impacts on Ethnic Minorities 2.1 Land Acquisition and Resettlement Impacts 6. As mentioned above, the MTIDP Phase I generally does not cause severe resettlement impacts on a large number of ethnic minorities while the total number of ethnic minority DPs is considerable, equaling to 514 HHs. The project s Phase I causes impacts on ethnic minority communities in 23 communes of 10 districts, in 4 provinces of the Mekong Delta (out of the total 51 communes/wards, of 17 districts, 7 provinces impacted of the MTIDP s Phase I). However, in the most cases, the resettlement impacts on ethnic minorities are marginal, mostly caused by the road component. The Waterway component has a much larger scope of land acquisition, but the corridor crosses the areas with scattered presence of ethnic minority communities, thus the waterway component poses resettlement impacts on a small number of ethnic minority DPs (34 ethnic minority DPs in total). Table 2.1 below summarizes the distribution of the impacted ethnic minorities over the MTIDP s Phase I provinces by subproject. The summarized data on the number of impacted ethnic minorities by ethnic group are given in Table 2.2. More details on the project resettlement impacts on ethnic minorities are given in Annex B Table 1 to Annex B Table 4. The distribution of affected ethnic minorities in relation to their communities is given in Annex B Tables 5a to Annex B Table 5d. Table 2.1: Distribution of MTIDP project s displaced ethnic minorities people by administrative units Subproject Waterways Province Number of affected HHs (of EM s related subprojects) Ethic Minority % of EM to total Total (HHs.) (HHs) aff. HHs Number of impacted Ethic Minorities population (pers) Corridor 2 Total WW subproject 7, Of which: 1. Long An Tien Giang 1, Dong Thap 2, An Giang 2, Kien Giang Roads 1, ,243 NH53-3/10 Tra Vinh NH54-5/6/7/8 Tra Vinh 1, ,656 DT04 Soc Trang Total Phase I 9, ,370 Source: Results of Inventory of Losses, Impacts on Ethnic Minorities 7. In total, 514 ethnic minority HHs (2,370 persons) will be adversely impacted due to permanent acquisition of land and loss of movable assets attached to the affected land. (See Table 2-2, 2.3). It account for about 5.7% of the total DPs numbers of EMs-related suborojects of the MTIDP s Phase I or 5.3% of its grand total DPs number. Out of the total of 514 ethnic minority DPs, 32 HHs will be severely affected due to the relocation (19 HHs), rebuilding house on remaining land (10 HHs) or loss of more than 20% of productive land (3 HHs). More details on the levels and the types of resettlement impacts on ethnic minorities given in the Annex B Table 1 to Annex B Table 4. 5

7 Table 2.2: Total number of affected Ethnic minorities caused by the MTIDP, Phase I Subproject Province Total MTIDP's DPs Total EM DPs Khmers Hoa Cham HHs Pers HHs Pers HHs Pers HHs Pers HHs Pers Total Roads 1,840 7, , , NH54 Tra Vinh 1,051 4, , , NH53 Tra Vinh 540 2, DT04 Soc Trang 249 1, TOTAL Corridor 2 7,245 28, Long An Tien Giang 1, Dong Thap Corr. No2 4. An Giang , Kien Giang ,085 36, , , TOTAL PHASE I Source: Results of IOL, conducted by the IESDR and PMU-W, 2006 Table 2.3: Types of resettlement impacts on ethnic minorities caused by the MTIDP, Phase I Subproject Province Total EM DPs HHs Pers No of DPs losing land No of DPs losing houses/ str. No of DPs losing crops/ trees No of severely affected EM DPs (HHs) Reloca ted Reorga nized Busine ss >20% agr land Total Roads 480 2, NH53 Tra Vinh NH54 Tra Vinh 355 1, DT04 Soc Trang TOTAL Corridor CORR. No2 Dong Thap An Giang TOTAL PHASE I 514 2, Source: Results of IOL, conducted by the IESDR and PMU-W, Impacts on Land 8. The project phase I will permanently acquire 13.5 ha of land of different types of ethnic minorities in total, of which 0.45 ha is residential; 5.2 ha, garden; 7.7 ha, agricultural; and only 0.1 ha, of special uses land Of these, ha is caused by the road component, and 1.66 ha by the waterway component. The most of ethnic minority HHs have long-term land use rights to their affected land. Some of EMs are affected due to loss of their houses built on the land borrowed from the others. 9. There are 19 HHs that will have to be relocated, 10 HHs will be reorganized on remaining land and 3 HHs that will lose more than 20% of their agricultural holding. 10. Table 2.4 below provides summarized data on the scale of land acquisition required by the MTIDP s phase I. More details on land acquisition are given in Annex B Table 2. 6

8 Table 2.4.: Summarized impacts on Land, caused by the MTIDP on EMs, phase I Subproject Province Total number of EMs DPs (HHs) No of HHs losing land (ho) Total loss of land (m2) Residential Of which (m2): Garden Rice/upland crops land Of special uses ROADS ,859 2,758 52,061 63,024 1,016 TV NH53 Tra Vinh , ,732 5, TV NH54 Tra Vinh ,272 2,271 41,729 50, ST DT04 Soc Trang , ,390 0 WATERWAY ,590 1, ,205 0 Corr No2 Dong Thap 8 8 1, An Giang ,540 1, ,205 0 TOTAL PHASE I ,448 4,507 52,061 77,229 1, Impacts on Houses and Other Structures 11. The project will impact 1,460 m2 of houses, 50m2 of kitchen, 35 m2 of brick-made yards and 662 m2 of built fence of 32 ethnic minority HHs due to loss of (See Table 2.5 and details in Annex B Table 3). Subproject Table 2.5: Impacts on houses and structures of EM DPs by MTIDP phase I Province No of DPs having houses/ structure s affected (HHs) 2) Total impact ed area Main houses are impacted (m2): Of wh: a) tempho use b) Semiperm (m2) Kitchen (m2) Brick/ce ment made yard, (m2) Brick wall/fence (m2) Electr meter (unit) Water meter Telepho ne connecti on ROADS NH53 Tra Vinh NH54 Tra Vinh DT04 Soc Trang WATERWAY CORR.No2 18 1,000 1, Dong Thap An Giang Total phase I 32 1,460 1, Impacts on Crops and Trees 12. There are 309 ethnic minority HHs whose trees (7,626 trees of different types) and crops (84,429 m2) will be lost due to the project development. (See Table 2.6 and more details in Annex B Table 4) 7

9 Subproject Table 2.6: Impacts on trees and crops caused by the MTIDP phase I Province Total No of EM affected (HHs) No of EM DPs losing trees/crops Total number of affecter trees (Trees) Areas of rice/upland crops impacted (m2) ,851 70,179 ROADS QL53 Tra Vinh ,465 12,946 QL54 Tra Vinh ,339 50,953 DT04 Soc Trang , WATERWAY 7 1,775 14,250 CORR. No2 An Giang ,768 0 Dong Thap TOTAL PHASE I ,626 84, Project s Positive Impacts 13. According to the results of the consultation and focus group discussions, most of the local ethnic minorities fully support the project investment, even if they have to give up some of their land. Most of the PAPs think that the proposed road improvement will bring them more benefits then negative impacts; they think the project will positively impact their living and economic conditions, and the negative impacts will be reasonably non-remarkable for the most part. According to them, the proposed road and waterway improvement can contribute to improving conditions for communication and exchange of goods. The people would be able to go to markets and to their pagoda more easily or more conveniently. The outcomes would contribute to an increase of income. The proposed road improvement would encourage the farmers to diversify agricultural production and non-farm economic activities in the localities. The local authorities and people consulted in ethnic minority-affected communes also considered that their children would have better roads to go to schools and that the people can have all-weather access road. Improved roads conditions may promote introduction of some new services and an increase commercial activities. 3 Legal Framework 14. This plan is developed based on OD 4.20 on Indigenous People of the World Bank and Policies for ethnic minorities of the Government of Vietnam (GOV). 3.1 World Bank Policy 15. According to the WB s definition, ethnic minorities (or Indigenous People) are social groups with a social and cultural identity distinct from the dominant society that may make them vulnerable to being disadvantaged in the development process. Their main specific features are: (a) a close attachment to ancestral territories and to the natural resources in these areas; (b) self-identification and identification by others as members of a distinct cultural group; (c) an indigenous language, often different from the national language; (d) presence of customary social and political institutions; and (e) primarily subsistence-oriented production 16. s OD 4.20 on Indigenous People emphasizes that the strategy for addressing the issues pertaining to indigenous peoples must be based on informed participation of indigenous people themselves. Thus identifying local preferences through direct consultation and incorporating indigenous knowledge into project approaches are core activities for any project that affect indigenous people and their rights to natural and economic resources. Thus, 8

10 starting at an early stage, a specialist experienced in ethnic minority issues will work to ensure that they are consulted throughout the project cycle. 3.2 Vietnam s Laws 17. The most important government policies in relation to ethnic minorities includes: The Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam of Article 5 of the Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam of 1992 stipulates a policy of no discrimination and equality for ethnic minorities: The Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a united nation having many nationalities. The State implements a policy of equality and unity and supports the cultures of all nationalities and prohibits discrimination and separation. Each nationality has the right to use its own language and characters to preserve their culture and to improve its own traditions and customs. The State carries out a policy to develop thoroughly and gradually improve the quality of life of ethnic minorities in Vietnam physically and culturally. - Article 94 in the Constitution states that the Ethnic Minorities Committee has the right to submit proposals, plans or related issues of indigenous peoples to the Assembly, monitor, control the implementation of national policies, development programs on various areas such as, education, health care, etc. 18. The Government Guidance No.525/TTG issued by Prime Minister on 2/11/1993, guiding implementation of development in the highland and ethnic areas. Its main points were: Develop infrastructure especially transportation road system and fresh water supply; Increase food security; Consolidate the education system, adjust education program based on the characteristics of provinces, create favorable conditions, and support the non-formal education programs; and Develop the internal economy. 19. In 1994, the Committee for Ethnic Minorities and Mountainous Areas (CEMMA), an agency directly under the office of the Prime Minister, was assigned as the coordinator for Instruction 525, which significantly increased the role of CEMMA in the development of ethnic minorities. 20. In November 1995, the Framework for External Assistance to Ethnic Minority Development was enacted. Based on previous experience, the Framework suggested a new strategy for ethnic minority development within the government policy objectives of stability, sustainable growth and equity, and poverty alleviation. Among the operational implications of this new strategy were: (i) a need for an integrated policy and planning framework, which is participatory; (ii) a concern to strengthen the management capacities of CEMMA and existing agents; (iii) a recognition of cultural, linguistic and social differences; (iv) an emphasis on balancing investments in human resources and physical infrastructure; (v) a participatory approach which employs consultation with ethnic minorities; and (vi) a need to improve the flow of resources to identify poverty groups. 21. Decision No. 135/1998/QD-TTg of the Prime Minister, dated 31 July 1998 approving Socioeconomic Development Program for mountainous and remote communes of special difficulties (Program 135) had enclosed this Framework for External Assistance to Ethnic Minority Development into the Policy and paid special attention to poverty reduction for ethnic 9

11 minorities. The general objectives were to: (i) rapidly improve the life of ethnic minority groups in extremely poor villages in mountainous and remote areas; (ii) create better conditions for these rural areas in order to surmount poverty and backward and slow development, (iii) integrate ethnic minority groups into the general development of the whole country; and (iii) contribute to security, safety, and natural defense. Among the goals from were: (i) eliminating hunger and reducing poverty by 4-5% annually (and 25% by 2005); (ii) supporting infrastructure (domestic water supply, building vehicle roads to commune centers, and promoting rural market development); (iii) encouraging children to go to school in right age, providing training to the majority of ethnic minority groups, enriching them with knowledge and skills of production, and (iv) controlling dangerous diseases. 22. Decision No. 237/1998/QD-TTg to approve National Goal Program on clean water and rural environmental hygiene (period ), where ethnic minorities are among the targeted groups. 23. Decision No. 07/2006/QD-TTg, dated 10 January 2006, approving Socioeconomic Development Program for mountainous and remote communes of special difficulties (Program stage II). 24. Decision No. 20/1998/ND-CP dated 31 March 1998 of the Government dealing with commercial development in mountainous areas, islands and ethnic minority areas, and Decision No. 02/2002/ND-CP of the Government amending and supplementing some articles of Decision No. 20/1998/ND-CP. 25. Decision of the Government No 78/2002/ND-CP dated 04 October 2002 dealing with credit for the poor and other policied subjects. 26. Decision No. 134/2004/QD-TTg of the Prime Minister, dated on 20 July 2004, promulgating some assistant policies on production land, residential land, houses and safe water for poor ethnic minorities. Together with the implementation of socioeconomic programs, this Decision aimed to provide direct State support to poor ethnic minority people, facilitate production development, improve living quality and lift them out of poverty. Subjects to be entitled to the assistance policies as regulated in this Decision were the ethnic minority households who have permanently resided in the area; poor households who lived on agriculture and forestry did not have or did not have sufficient production land, dwelling land and had difficulties in dwelling house and living water issues. 27. Decision No. 135/2005/QD-BNV, issued by Minister of Ministry of Internal Affairs on 29 December 2005, regulating education procedure applied to heads of hamlet and village, heads of population groups etc to provide them with basic knowledge of the State and Law that are directly related to their work as well as necessary support knowledge and working skills to assist them in fulfilling their work in locality. 28. To realize the GOV s policies and to implement development programs on Ethnic minorities, DEMAs have been established at the provincial and district s levels within PPCs/DPCs, where ethnic minorities live in groups, in order to consolidate and coordinate all common efforts and initiatives at local levels for development and improvement of living standards of ethnic minorities, fostering their dignity and protecting their cultural uniqueness. 29. Thus, Vietnam s legally stated policy concerning ethnic minorities is similar in content to the World Bank policy on Indigenous Peoples OD The policies of the Government 10

12 regarding ethnic minorities do not contradict to any of the provisions of OD 4.20 and do not prevent them from being implemented under MTIDP. 4 Socioeconomic Conditions of Ethnic Minorities in Project Areas 4.1 Population and Ethnic Composition In Project Areas 30. Tra Vinh, where NH53 and NH54 are located, and Soc Trang, where DT04 is located, are the two provinces with the largest number of Khmer ethnic minorities in the Mekong Delta region. The Khmer population s share is more than 30% of Tra Vinh s total provincial population, and nearly 29% in Soc Trang province. In many affected communes, they account for two-thirds or more of the communes population. Many Khmers also live in An Giang. The number of Hoa, or Chinese, people in the provinces is also large. In Tra Vinh, while the Kinh people form the majority of the provincial population, the Khmer group comprises a great part of the total population of many affected villages, communes, and districts. Sixty-five percent of Tra Cu district s population is of Khmer ethnic group. In the affected village Soc Bung of Thanh Phu commune, My Xuyen district, Soc Trang province, the Khmer overwhelmingly dominates the village s population, making up 96.3% of of the village s total population (467 Khmer HHs out of of the village total 485 HHs). 31. Hoa (or Chinese) ranks the second in number among the local minorities groups following the Khmers in the Soc Trang and Tra Vinh, and there are more than 11 thousand of them in An Giang. Although An Giang has the largest number of Cham people in the Mekong Delta, they are rarely found along the MTIDP s northern waterway corridor 2. According to anthropologists, the Khmers settled into the Mekong Delta and project provinces as early as in the 7 th century. The greatest influx of Hoa migrating from China into the region occurred in the 17 th century. Table 4.1a and 4.1.b provide selected figures, derived from the Census of 1999, on ethnic composition of the MTIDP s four ethnic minority-related provinces. Table 4.1a: Ethnic composition of provincial population in EM-related provinces of the MTIDP phase I Unit: pers. By ethnic group: No Province Total population Kinh Khmer Hoa Cham Tay Ngai Other& notidentified 1 Tra Vinh 966, , ,932 9, Soc Trang 1,172, , ,269 68, Dong Thap 1,566,571 1,562, , An Giang 2,044,376 1,940,996 78,706 11,256 12, Total: 16,130,675 14,884,515 1,025, ,778 13,766 1,369 1,170 4,216 Source: General Statistical Office (GSO). General Census on housing survey 1999 results of comprehensive survey. Statistical Publishing house, Hanoi,

13 Table 4.1b: Ethnic composition of provincial population in EM-related provinces of the MTIDP phase I Unit: % No Province By sex By ethnic group: Total (=100%) Male Female Kinh Khmer Hoa Cham Tay Ngai Other& notidentified 1 Tra Vinh Soc Trang Dong Thap An Giang Total (%) Source: as above In Impacted Communes 32. The results of the inventories of losses for the MTIDP phase I subprojects show that, of the total 23 communes of 10 districts, in 4 provinces of phase I road subprojects, there are 18 communes of 7 districts in 2 provinces (Tra Vinh and Soc Trang) that have ethnic minorities impacted in group due to permanent loss of land and attached properties. In the project areas of the waterway corridor 2, the ethnic minorities are found in group only in two communes of 2 districts that belong to two provinces, namely Dong Thap and An Giang. 33. Results of demographic analysis of the IOL and the socioeconomic survey indicate that the ethnic composition of DPs of the affected areas generally reflects the regional distribution pattern. The Khmers account for about 32% of the total population affected by NH54 or NH In the project areas of the two other subprojects, DT04 and Corridor 2, Khmer makes up a much smaller proportion. The DPs of other ethnic minority groups are almost not found in the MTIDP phase I areas, except for some single cases in certain communes of the corridor 2. According to ethnic minority DPs and local authorities, it is common that Khmers tend to sell their land and move to more quiet and remote areas as the land value increases along the main roads because they would like to obtaion cash to cover many their expenditure needs while moving to quieter remote areas is not in conflict with, but rather more suitable to, their traditional lifestyle and employment skills. 34. Table 2.2 and Annex B Table 1, Annex B-Table 5 to Annex Table 7 provide summarized and detailed data on ethnic composition of the DPs of the MTIDP s phase I. From the data, it could see certain relationship between shares of Khmers and Hoa group and their geographic location. Generally, the Khmers occupy more or less remote communes and villages than Kinhs, while Hoa either are tighten to Khmers group or tend to concentrate in urban places where they can better engage in commercial activities Demographic Features of Ethnic Minority DPs 35. The average HH size of ethnic minority DPs in most cases varies between 4.5 and 5.5 persons/hh. Generally, the Khmers have a larger family than the local Kinh and Hoa groups do. This can be clearly seen from Table 4.3 and Annex B Table 6. About a half of affected ethic minority HHs have 4 members or fewer. The big HHs with more than 8 persons per HH are only found among Khmer DPs, but mostly in communes of Tra Cu district of NH53 and NH54. The sex ratio of the EMs surveyed indicates a slight domination of the males over females in NH54 and Corridor 2, but the opposite situation is observed for the NH53 and DT04. In the sex composition of the HHHs of ethnic minority DPs, the males constitute a higher ratio, equal to about 66-70% of the total HHHs. 12

14 Table 4.3: Demographic characteristics of impacted household heads, MTIDP Phase I Prov/Work Ethnic minority Total HHs (HHs) Total population surveyed (pers) Sex ratio of HHs heads (%) Sex ratio of HHs members (%) Male Female Male Female Average HHs sized of DPs (prs/hh) Distribution of DPs by HHs size (pers/hh) <= >8 TV NH54 Khmer Hoa TV NH 53 Khmer Hoa ST DT04 Khmer Hoa Corr.2 Khmer The average age of the Khmer DPs HHHs is 49.5 for NH54; 50.3 for Corridor 2; and 57.0 for NH53, each being higher than that of Hoa ethnic HHHs in their respective subproject. In accordance with this, the average age of total DP population surveyed in NH54 is higher than that in NH The Table 4.4a and 4.4b provide age structures of the DPs, and more details are given in Annex B Table 7 Table 4.4a: Ages characteristics of impacted households heads, MTIDP Phase I Works Province Ethnicity Total no of respondents (HHs) HHHs aged 35 and younger (%) HHHs aged above 35 to 55 (%) HHHs aged above 55 (%) Total (%) Average age of HHHs (years/ HHH) NH54 Tra Vinh 1.Khomer Hoa NH53 Tra Vinh 1.Khomer Hoa DT04 Soc Trang na Corr2 An Giang Khmer na: non-available data Table 4.4b: Ages characteristics of impacted household members, MTIDP Phase I Works Province Ethnicity Total No of surv. HHs No of respo nd Aver age (yrs) Age composition of the surveyed DPs (% to total surveyed) <7 7: >55 Total NH54 Tra Vinh Khmer Hoa na na NH53 Tra Vinh Khmer Hoa na na DT04 Soc Trang na na na Corr2 An Giang Khmer na: non-available data 4.2 General Situation of Ethnic Minorities 38. Thanks to the policy of no discrimination and equality for ethnic minorities pursued by the Vietnam Government and its nation, the great assistances and prioritized investments have been given to the poorest and remotest communes, ethnic minorities, especially Khmer ethnic group, in the Mekong Delta in general, and in Soc Trang, Tra Vinh and An Giang as particular, and ethnic minorities have enjoyed benefits of development and an increasingly improved quality of life. Their standards of living have been continuously upgraded with poverty rate rapidly decreasing. 39. In addition to the common development programs provided to all, the ethnic minorities in project-affected provinces have been particularly benefited from the followings: 13

15 - Program 135/CP Phase 2, developing infrastructure in remote and difficult communes. thanks to the program, all communes have access road at least to their commune center, access to electricity, and health care station, and are connected to the common telecommunication network - The programs realizing Decision No134/2004/QD-TTg, promoting assistance policies on production land, residential land, houses and safe water for poor ethnic minorities. Within these programs, many poor ethnic minority HHs in the project s provinces have been allocated with land for residential purpose, or were offered new houses. According to the reports of Soc Trang and Tra Vinh PPCs, 85-96% of the population currently has access to safe water. The number of old, dilapidated, houses among ethnic minorities group are being continuously reduced, replaced with new ones funded by the Gov. or social budgets. A number of mutual-assisting cooperatives were formed in the provinces to assist landless farmers to redeem land or borrow it for cultivation; consolidate common endeavors for improving farming techniques, and production effectiveness. - The poverty alleviation programs promoting livestock development given to ethnic minorities, such as cow breeding, shrimp raising, or introduction of cash crops like mushrooms, and projects of improving fruit garden with special attention, have helped many ethnic minorities escape from poverty, and some have even joined above-average income group. - Preferential education treatment to ethnic minorities, with exemption of education fees in schools and preferential admission to higher education. Khmer language is being taught along with Vietnamese in primary schools, where are ethnic minority members are attending, and in Khmer temples. The local TVs have special programs in Khmer language. - Establishment of communal center for community education and culture at the commune level, where many agricultural extension activities, exchange of production experiences, and law education were and are continued to be held, especially helpful for ethnic minorities. - Ethnic minorities have presentation in all local governmental and local organizations. EM traditions and culture are protected and promoted. 40. Regardless of these, a great part of ethnic minorities in project provinces still lag behind the Kinhs due to various reasons, including their generally lower levels of education and social awareness, greater dependence on natural resource base, lack of capital for investment, more mouths to feed, and lower economic start point/level. Thos is why special attention for ethnic minorities need to be taken to ensure that they will be treated fairly and that they will benefit from the project development compatible with their social and economic structures. 4.3 Land Holding 41. The Mekong Delta is well known as a region with the highest incidence of landlessness in Vietnam. Moreover, it is also known that the landlessness rate is much higher among the local Khmer ethnic group than the average for the whole region. The phenomenon seems to continue and, as consequences, new landless farmers become to hired workers in agricultural and non-agricultural sectors. Nevertheless, results of IOL and SES of the MTIDP phase I subprojects show that the household agricultural land holding of affected ethnic minority farmers is rather fair, compared to the local Kinhs. Meanwhile, the lineal character of land acquisition caused by the MTIDP has limited severity of impacts on local farmers, including those of local 14

16 ethnic minorities. This is why the number of ethnic minority farmers to be severely impacted in the MTIDP, especially for the road component, is limited (See Table 4.5):.Table 4.5: Average agricultural holding of ethnic minority farmers affected by the MTIDP phase I Province Ethnicity No of HHs losing aciculate. land (HHs) Average agr holding (m2/hh) Average loss (m2/hh) Max holding (m2) Min holding (m2) Max loss (m2) Min loss (m2) No of HHs losing >20% agr land (HHs) Aver loss by severely affected farmers (m2/hh) Nh53 Tra Vinh Khmer , , , Hoa 3 13, ,000 7, NH54 Tra Vinh Khmer 24 10, Hoa 1 4, ,500 4, DT04 Soc Trang Khmer , , Hoa 2 2, ,600 1, Dong Thap 0 Corr2 An Giang Khmer ,330 15, ,330 Hoa 0 Source: Results of IOL and Socioeconomic survey of DPs, conducted by IESDR and PMU-W, Jan-Feb, Income Sources and Income 42. Agriculture remains to be the most important source of income for the main part of local Khmer HHs and for a considerable number of the Hoa group. The main agricultural activities in the Mekong Delta in general, and ethnic minorities-related provinces as particular, include different types of activities, such as rice production, cultivation of certain stable upland crops, some cash upland and industrial crops. Catching aquaculture products in fresh and brackish water are also traditional for many locals of the Khmer ethnic group. The recent development of shrimp raising in brackish water is a new occupation where likely only a selective part, mostly more or less affordable, Khmers could join in. According to the results of the review of secondary information, the cow (ox) raising is traditional activities of many Khmer HHs in Tra Vinh and Soc Trang provinces. 43. Due to economic difficulties and market failure or due to HH-specific problems, many local Khmers HHs have to mortgage or sell off their land for to cover HHs expenditures, becoming landless farmers. As a consequence, shifting to hired labor in agricultural or nonagricultural sectors within or outside province was the way that the landless farmers tried to adapt to earn living. It was reflected in reports of many local communes authorities on increasing number of Khmers engaged in off-farm sectors and the tendency of out-migration observed among the local Khmer ethnic minority group. 44. Tables 4.6a and 4.6b below provide summarized data on main occupations of the DPs HHHs and the DPs surveyed population. More details are given in Annexe B Tables 9 and 10. From the tables, clear difference in occupation between Hoa and Khmer group are seen. This is in line with the common picture, where Hoa people tend to be engaged in trade and service sectors, while Khmers are mostly concentrated in different agricultural activities. In An Giang, most of the HHHs as well as HH members are engaged in off-farm activities, and this can be probably explained by the widespread landlessness among the affected ethnic minority population. 15

17 Province Table 4.6a: Occupation structure of DPs HHHs, MTIDP phase I, (%) Ethnicity Total surveyed ethnic HHs (HHHs) State salary Agricult Hired agricult. Trade Services liberate works/self employ. Housewife Nh53 Tra Vinh Khmer Hoa NH54 Tra Vinh Khmer Hoa DT04 Soc Trang Khmer Hoa Corr2 An Giang Khmer Total Table 4.6b: Occupation structure of surveyed DPs population, MTIDP phase I (in %) Province Ethnicity Total surveyed populati on (pers) State salary Agricult Hired agricult. Trade Services liberate works/se lf employm ent Pupils/st udents Housewife Nh53 Tra Vinh Khmer NH54 Tra Vinh Khmer Hoa DT04 Soc Trang Khmer Corr2 An Giang Khmer The figure from Table 4.7 indicates the generally lower income level of DPs in Tra Vinh province than in the two others Soc Trang and An Giang. It is likely in line with the common income distribution pattern in the Delta, as Tra Vinh seems to be the poorest province in the region. The per capita income level also somewhat reflects the occupation structure of the DPs, where trade and non-farm activities as a rule provide higher income than agricultural ones. More details on distribution of EM s by income groups by administrative is given in Annex Table 13. Table 4-7: Per capita income in Ethnic Minority affected communes Total Total Sum Aver/per Distribution of DPs by income No of populati income s group (in %, 1000 VND) Works Province Ethnicity HHs on (1000 (1000VN 200 to <200 > 500 surv. (pers) VND) D/per) <500 TV QL54 Tra Vinh Khmer , Hoa , TV QL53 Tra Vinh Khmer , ST DT04 Soc Trang Khmer 1 3 1, Corridor 2 An Giang Khmer , Living Standard and Conditions 46. As mentioned above, all the affected ethnic minority communes have access to electricity and other basic technical infrastructure. The living conditions are generally better along the roads than along the waterways. Most of the local ethnic minority population in the former has access to safe water, electricity. On the other hand, all the ethnic minority HHs surveyed in the latter mainly have to use unsafe water derived from waterways or irrigation canals. Currently, in communes of ethnic minorities, housing development program for the poor and ethnic minorities, safe water and sanitation development projects, development of new, flood protecting, residential settlement sites for flood-prone areas are widely implemented, all contributing to improving living conditions of ethnic minorities. According to the reports of local authorities consulted, except for the cases where ethnic minority HHs are located separately and far away from the power supply network, almost all ethnic minority HHs have connection to 16

18 the common grid line. However, the use of open toilet installed on water surface without sanitation standards still is very popular among the local population, including the ethnic minority DPs. The figure on the types of toilet used by the ethnic minority DPs confirmed this phenomenon. The septic tank toilet of sanitation standards are observed only among DPs of NH54: 75% of DPs of Hoa ethnic group in NH54 use the flush toilet (see Annex B Table 11). Firewood serves as the sole source of cooking heat for the most part of ethnic minosity DPs of the MTIDP. Table 4.8 provides summarized data on the household assets possessed by ethnic minority DPs surveyed. More details is given in Annex Table 12 Table 4.8: Average possession of household s assets in EM impacted communes surveyed Works Province Ethnicity HHs surveyed Bicycles Motobikephone cooker Tele- Electr Furniture TV Video Refrige. NH54 Tra Vinh Khmer Hoa NH53 Tra Vinh Khmer DT04 Soc Trang Khmer CORR2 An Giang Khmer Education 47. Vietnam has completed instituting compulsory primary education program, and compulsory basic secondary education program are presently being completed for all its population including the ethnic minorities. Ethnic minorities have benefited from preferential treatment in education systems, including exemption from education fees in schools and preferential admission to college. Nowadays, illiteracy can be found only among the groups aged older than 55-60, and mostly among females. The results of surveys show a clear improvement in the levels of education of young generation compared to the aged ones. The average schooling years for the total DP communities are in all cases higher than that of the DPs HHHs. Respectively, the portion of DPs having higher education levels are higher for the total population surveyed than that average for the DPs HHHs. The education receives less attention in An Giang than in the coastal provinces. (See Table 4.9a,b and Annex B Table 8). Works Province Ethnicity Table 4.9a: Education of affected HHHs No of DPs (HHHs) Average schoolin g years Distribution of HHHs by education group 5-9 High Illiterate edu TV QL54 Tra Vinh Khmer Hoa TV QL53 Tra Vinh Khmer Hoa ST DT04 Soc Trang Khmer Corridor 2 An Giang Khmer Table 4.9b: Education of affected population surveyed Works Province Ethnicity No of DPs (HHHs) Average schoolin g years Distribution of HHHs by education group 5-9 High Illiterate edu TV QL54 Tra Vinh Khmer Hoa TV QL53 Tra Vinh Khmer Hoa ST DT04 Soc Trang Khmer Corridor 2 An Giang Khmer Ethnic Integration 17

19 48. The results of community consultations have revealed that the ethnic minorities of the project areas have been in the process of full integration with the Kinh majority. Ethnic minorities wear the same daily dress as Kinhs, live in the same type of houses, and speak Vietnamese. The ethnic minority languages are mostly used within families and at temples only, while EMs widely use formal Vietnamese in community. The intermarriages are common, and according to opinions all people consulted, there are no barriers preventing this. 49. Equally to Kinhs group, ethnic minorities actively participate in all local social, cultural and economical activities. They have representation in all political, governmental organizations, and participate in local decision-making process equally to Kinh people. 50. The common education system and preferential treatment for ethnic minorities in education and communication all favor improving social, economical and political awareness and capacity of ethnic minorities, enabling and integrating them into Vietnam s national society and its common development process. 51. All the local ethnic minority people consulted recognized that their education and awareness levels, as well as living standards are often lower than that of local Kinhs. Reasons for that are not only generally lower education, but also the more disadvantaged location of their village, with less developed infrastructure and further distance from main centre of communication. 5 Public Consultation and Participation 52. A number of discussions and consultations with authorities and local ethnic minority people of impacted ethnic minority communes have been conducted during the project preparation stage. In ethnic minority communities, the Buddhist priests or village elders who used to be the most respected, play the vital role in public consultations. They were invited to meetings for getting information on the project and RP and EMDP. Meetings included indigenous peoples, the authority of village/commune, and women s association. The presentation was made by consultants on the locations of the project and proposed policy, and participants were requested to assess project s possible adverse impacts, and Spropose mitigation measures and development programs. 53. The local authorities, among them were many ethnic minority officials, actively engaged in assessing possible impacts on ethnic minoritiess. 54. Full support of ethnic minorities in all affected communes has been attained to the MTIDP subproject. Both local authorities and ethnic minority people actively participated in discussions on their needs, problems and priorities, which may be integrated into the MTIDP to extend and make use of project s benefits for improving their, ethnic minorities, incomes and upgrading their social, economical and cultural lives. Thus, all consulted communes expressed the needs for small credits to develop farm-based and non-farm activities. Attention was given to consultations with ethnic minorities on their proposed measures to improve existing agricultural production. Feedbacks from the ethnic minorities and their authorities have been incorporated into their development plans, which are described below. 6 Mitigation Measures and Development Plans 55. The Ethnic Minority Development Plan (EMDP) is not only for DPs who are directly affected by land acquisition but also for the ethnic minorities who are living in the projectaffected areas. As mentioned in the RP, this EMDP is developed based on the results of consultations with and participation of ethnic minorities and their local authorities. 18

20 56. Special resettlement provisions for ethnic minorities are to ensure consideration of impacted ethnic minority people s views on various issues and to represent their legal rights. 57. Through consultations with and participation of local authorities and EM in the project affected areas, they gave feedback on the potential adverse impacts by the project as below: - Loss of land and attached properties - Traffic accidents and safety; - accident and environmental pollution in the construction period; - disturbance by the construction and construction workers to villages. - Addiction and social evils 58. All of the feedback is integrated in this EMDP and Environmental Mitigation Measures (EMP of EA report). 6.1 Policy for DPs Losing Land 1. All of these DPs are entitled to compensation and rehabilitation programs as described in the RP. In addition, the household who are to be relocated or who permanently loses more than 20% of productive land is subsidized with an amount of 1,500,000VND for fertilizer in order to restore/rehabilitate their income. 2. All DPs affected on land will be granted with LURC for their remained land holdings and for land they purchase without any payment. 3. Severely affected farmers will be assisted in accessing loan from the Bank for Social Policies (BSP) with the amount of loan ranging from 3,000,000 to 5 million VND per HH in the short and/or medium terms (from one to three years respectively). Proper technical guidance will be provided so that the people will know how to use and manage credit properly. According to BSP policy, ethnic minorities will get loan with lower interest rate (lower from 10% to 15%). 6.2 Development Plans for All Ethnic Minorities in Project Areas 59. A special program is prepared for ethnic minority people who are displaced by the project and/or living in the project areas. It includes the followings: (See Appendix 4) 1. Project Information dissemination: 60. General Resettlement Information dissemination is carried out as part of the RP implementation for all project s DPs, including the impacted ethnic minority members. However, to avoid any possible language barrier and ensure full respect to ethnic minorities, the project information campaign may need to be done in the concerned local ethnic minority languages wherever applicable. Moreover, it also needs to inform the ethnic minorities about the EMDP. To implement this activity, the Public Information Booklet (PIB) and other disseminated materials for ethnic minorities will be translated into and held in the respective ethnic minoirty language and posted at places adequate to specifics of their cultural and living conditions. The project information dissemination for the ethnic minorities will be carried out in parallel with the described in the RP schedule for general resettlement information campaign. The ethnic minority consultant and ethnic minority staff of the PMU1 and PMU-W will cooperate with the concerned communes to fulfill these tasks. The cost for this activity is taken from the Counterpart budget. 19