Ethnic Affairs : Meeting with ethnic associations in Shan State (East)

Union Minister for Ethnic Affairs U Than Maung held talks with Ethnic Literature and Culture Associations in Eastern Shan State on Friday at the Hall of Keng Tung City Development Committee.

During the meeting, the Union Minister discussed matters related to the Ministry’s coordinating plans with the relevant ministries regarding the registration of ethnic associations and responsibility to preserve ethnic language, literature, and cultural heritage.

He also urged to establish appropriate rules and guidelines for this responsibility. He emphasized the importance of compiling information concerning the social life, traditional costumes and customs of ethnic minorities. He added that the Ministry of Education is facilitating to enable the recruitment of more ethnic-language teachers.

The Union Minister also outlined for establishment of district-level branches and offices in Self-Administered Division or Self-Administered Zones in order to carry out ethnic affairs effectively.

Discussions included vocational training opportunities for ethnic youth ,and financial support for traditional festivals in ethnic areas, employment opportunities for local ethnic youth, cultural exchange programs to promote solidarity among different ethnic groups, addressing the difficulties of ethnic literature and cultural associations’ registration, correcting cases where ethnic nationality names have been incorrectly recorded on National Registration Cards and maintenance of roads and bridges in villages.

The Union Minister and officials coordinated the needs.  Financial assistance were also provided to Ethnic Literature and Cultural Associations in Eastern Shan State.