IPP-115 v4
World Bank and British Government Co-financed
China Poor Rural Community Development (PRCDP)
Rongan County Minority Development Program
PRCDP Project Office of Rongan County, Guangxi Region
CCCC at Sun Yat-sen University
August 2004
CONTENTS
I. Population and Distribution of Nationalities in Project Areas 4
II. History and Culture of Minorities in Project Areas 5
III. Economy and Means of Livelihood of Minorities in Project Areas 7
IV. Social Organizations of Minorities in Project Areas 9
V. Relations between Nationalities in Project Areas 10
I. Poor Situation of Minorities in Project Areas and Cause Analysis 10
(I) Poor Situation of Minorities in Project Areas 10
(II) Analysis of Causes of Poverty of Minorities 12
VII. MDP Formulation Based on County 13
Chapter 2. Minorities and Project in Rongan County 13
I. Positive Impacts 14
1. Impacts on local living standard 14
II. Negative Impacts and Relevant Suggestions 15
1. Project execution may impact minority cultures in the region 15
III. Suggestions from Minorities Villagers 16
Chapter 3. Legal Framework and Ideas for Formulation of Minority Development Program 17
(I) Constitution of PRC and Law of Regional National Autonomy of PRC 18
(II) Minority Regulations/Ordinances at Autonomous Region, Autonomous County and Minority Xiang Levels 18
II. General Ideas for Formulation of Rongan Minority Development Program 19
Chapter 4. Participation of Minority Villagers in the Project 20
Section 1. Participatory Poverty Analysis and Participatory Community Development Plan 20
Section 2. Execution, Supervision and Evaluation of Participatory Project 22
Chapter 5. 2005 Project Execution Plan and Budget 23
I. Formation of Project Planning for Minority Villages 23
II. Year 1 Project Executive Plan and Budget for Minority Villages 24
Chapter 6. Budget Supervision and Evaluation 26
II. Evaluation Mechanism 27
The World Bank and British Department for International Development stress the importance of the minorities’ present situation of their equal benefits for the project’s execution, as well as the importance of joint development of multiple nationalities, and propose that a key index of result evaluation is the substantial development of the nationalities (especially minorities) in the project areas by participating in the project. Based on the above consideration and the requirements of the World Bank and British Department for International Development, the Foreign-funded Project Management Center at the National Poverty-relief Office entrusted the CCCC at Sun Yat-sen University to formulate the minority development programs (MDP) along with the 6 non-minority autonomous counties involved in the China Poor Rural Community Integrated Development Project (PRCDP). Rongan County in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region is one of the 6 non-minority autonomous counties. As required by World Bank policy OD4.20, the Rongan Minority Development Program for PRCDP was made out based on the information of the distribution, politics, economy, national culture, participation of the minorities in the project areas of Rongan County investigated and collected. The references to this program came from the existing data and field investigation findings of the province, county and Xiangs (a sub-county administrative region).
Chapter 1. Minority Overview in Project Areas
I. Population and Distribution of Nationalities in Project Areas
Rongan County, Gunagxi is a regional level poor county, where 19 nationalities live, which are Han, Zhuang, Miao, Yao, Dong, Mulam, Hui, Shui, Buyi, Manchu, Yi, Li, She, Jing, Tujia, Gaoshan, Maonan, Tibetan and Bai. The PRCDP project involves 45 villages in 13 Xiangs or towns in the county, mostly distributed in remote mountain areas and being minority centrally inhabited villages. The specific situation is as follows:
Minority Distribution of Villages in Project Areas in Rongan (Unit: Person)
Project area / Minority population / Proportion (%) / Zhuang / Dong / Miao / Yao / Others / Minority villageBanlan Town / Dongling / 843 / 93.36 / 43 / 800 / Yao village
Guanxi / 1031 / 60.43 / 210 / 23 / 58 / 740 / Yao village
Mengcun / 589 / 62.93 / 356 / 115 / 106 / 12 / Mainly Zhuang
Shajiang / 237 / 28.76 / 160 / 23 / 8 / 46
Sian / 1302 / 68.67 / 1020 / 184 / 98 / Zhuang village
Yayao Xiang / Cheping / 762 / 49.00 / 430 / 38 / 58 / 99 / 137 / Mainly Zhuang
Sutian / 542 / 34.48 / 365 / 54 / 58 / 65
Dajiang Town / Dahua / 371 / 32.40 / 232 / 70 / 19 / 50
Taijiang / 818 / 65.91 / 632 / 75 / 62 / 49 / Zhuang village
Dapo
Xiang / Luju / 1480 / 81.01 / 1454 / 24 / 2 / Zhuang village
Xingshang / 754 / 74.58 / 747 / 4 / 2 / 1 / Zhuang village
Fushang / 226 / 18.65 / 191 / 12 / 23
Tongshi / 977 / 61.46 / 888 / 13 / 14 / 62 / Zhuang village
Chengdong Xiang / Xuncun / 399 / 36.37 / 339 / 32 / 23 / 5
Yindong / 198 / 29.33 / 186 / 5 / 7
Daxiang Xiang / Silang / 992 / 81.31 / 151 / 146 / 683 / 12 / Miao village
Yaosong / 548 / 37.48 / 105 / 123 / 242 / 78 / Mainly Miao
Fushi
Town / Xiaolv / 932 / 87.27 / 910 / 7 / 15 / Zhuang village
Mugua / 1231 / 75.66 / 1072 / 12 / 138 / 9 / Zhuang village
Qixi / 820 / 52.97 / 820 / Zhuang village
Dongqi
Xiang / Hongri / 66 / 2.31 / 9 / 4 / 30 / 1 / 22
Antai / 250 / 31.13 / 250 / Mulam hamlet
Changfeng / 24 / 2.37 / 9 / 3 / 10 / 2
Liangcun / 182 / 7.57 / 155 / 27
Siding Town / Shouju / 685 / 37.55 / 659 / 15 / 11 / Zhuang village
Jizhao / 2472 / 91.45 / 2472 / Zhuang village
Matian / 1555 / 99.23 / 1553 / 2 / Zhuang village
Shanbei / 2360 / 91.58 / 2346 / 14 / Zhuang village
Qiaoban Xiang / Guban / 2093 / 100.00 / 2093 / Zhuang village
Zhongcun / 1457 / 100.00 / 1445 / 12 / Zhuang village
Ercun / 1170 / 100.00 / 1170 / Zhuang village
Lianglao / 1818 / 100.00 / 1810 / 5 / 3 / Zhuang village
Jiangbian / 1374 / 100.00 / 1370 / 4 / Zhuang village
Yangshan / 2011 / 100.00 / 2011 / Zhuang village
Wentang / 1547 / 100.00 / 1512 / 17 / 18 / Zhuang village
Shazi Xiang / Guyi / 2382 / 99.50 / 2362 / 20 / Zhuang village
Shazi / 2196 / 97.90 / 2196 / Zhuang village
Mashan / 99 / 6.77 / 85 / 9 / 5
Daliang Town / Yangliu / 1577 / 98.01 / 1567 / 10 / Zhuang village
Hudong / 126 / 18.86 / 60 / 41 / 25
Shimen / 80 / 14.31 / 67 / 7 / 6
Tantou Xiang / Xian / 123 / 5.44 / 24 / 29 / 47 / 23
Peicun / 36 / 1.61 / 36
Dongxiang / 56 / 2.58 / 18 / 20 / 16 / 1
Lingbei / 27 / 1.69 / 6 / 8 / 13
II. History and Culture of Minorities in Project Areas
1. Zhuang nationality
The Zhuang nationality is the largest minority in Rongan County and is the offspring of the Yue people. “Zhuang” is what this nationality calls itself, transliterated as “Zhuang”.
The Zhuang language is used, which belongs to the Zhuang-Dai branch in the Zhuang-Dong group of the Sino-Tibetan family, and has 3 dialects. The Zhuang people also use Chinese characters and once used the “Tusu characters” borrowing Chinese characters to record the Zhuang syllables. The government created the written Zhuang language using Latin letters in 1955 and published a book, and revised the written Zhuang language in 1982.
In history, the Zhuang people were good at planting paddy rice with the rich water resources. Women are good at weaving and embroidery. The Zhuang cloth and brocade woven are renowned for exquisite pattern and vivid colors.
Zhuang villages are oriented to the east. The Zhuang people mostly dwell by surname or clan in railing type buildings, mostly wood or brick-wood structure storied buildings.
The Zhuang people believe in a number of gods and worship ancestors. Chicken divination is popular. After the Song dynasty, Buddhism and Taoism were introduced in succession and temples built. Each temple has a shrine for ancestral worship. At many places, wizards and witches exercise divination.
A Zhuang family is typically a monogamous one. More men settle at their wives’ homes than the Han nationality. Except the surname of Huang, Zhuang people of the same surname can marry each other.
Wood coffin and inhumation is practiced among the Zhuang people in the project areas.
The characteristic national festivals include “Feb 2”, “Mar 3”, “Zhongyuan Festival”, “Cattle Soul Festival” and “Eating Festival”.
2. Miao nationality
The Miao people in the project areas are mainly found in Daxiang, Dajiang, Changan, Banlan, Fushi Xiangs/Towns. The Miao people in the Guangxi Project Region dwell in suspended foot houses in stockade mountain villages.
The language belongs to the Miao branch in the Miao-Yao group. The Miao people at Anning Village under Daxiang Xiang speak the Miao language, scattered Miao people mostly speak Chinese.
A Miao family entertains guests with oil tea. Eating oil tea is a mode of social intercourse of the youth.
The Miao people living together maintain the traditional Miao clothes, those living scattered have the same clothes as the Han nationality.
In respect of festival, the Miao’s New Year’s Day, Drum Day, Reed Day, Slope Party, February Sacrifice and New Seedling Festival are the most distinctive.
The marriage is free. Numerous festivals bring opportunities of free love and spouse selection to the youth. Miao families are monogamous.
Wood coffin and inhumation is practiced. Inhumation is usually done on the first or second day of death. The body of one deceased unconventionally cannot be carried to the home and is not buried until 2 years later.
The Miao people believe in multi-god worship and like divination. They think everything on the earth is dominated by the ghosts and gods, human diseases have arisen from offense to the ghosts and gods, so they won’t see a doctor in case of a disease but entrust it to divination. At the Miao villages, the villagers would conduct a “village clearing” sacrifice annually to get away the fire god. During this period, strangers are not allowed to enter the village. Besides, the Miao people also worship ancestors very much.
3. Yao nationality
The origin of the Yao people in Rongan County is unknown. Dongling and Guanxi Villages under Banlan Xiang are inhabited by Yao peope. The Yao people living together speak the Yao language, the scattered Yao people speak Chinese. The Yao people in the whole county use Chinese characters and mostly live on high mountains.
When a family member dies, the relatives dress the deceased in a white shroud and put it in a coffin, then cover the body with a piece of white cloth, ask a Taoist to recite scriptures (to release the soul from purgatory).
The custom of sworn brother is still prevailing in the Yao nationality.
They worship the natural gods and regard the sun, moon, wind, rain and thunder as gods, and also worship their own ancestors by setting up a shrine in the main hall of the house.
4. Dong nationality
The Dong people in Rongan live together with the Han nationality and their origin is not known.
The Dong nationality has its own language that belongs to the Dong-Shui branch in the Dong -Zhuang group of the Sino-Tibetan family. The Dong people in Rongan use Chinese.
Their houses are mostly fir structure railing type suspended foot storied buildings, most 2-3 floors. The ground floor accommodates poultry and livestock, farm tools and firewood; the second floor is used as kitchen and hall, the third floor includes bedrooms.
The Dong people like to eat pickle. Fish culture in paddy field is a characteristic of the Dong nationality. Oil tea is not only ordinary meal but also a way of social intercourse.
Most customs of the Dong people in Rongan County are the same as the Han nationality.
III. Economy and Means of Livelihood of Minorities in Project Areas
The minorities in the project areas of Rongan County mainly spread in remote mountain areas with harsh natural conditions, such as the Zhongshan Mountain areas in the north and rocky mountain areas in the south. The minorities in the project areas of Rongan County mainly deal with traditional agriculture, and also forestry, fishery and small handicraft. Their crops are mainly paddy, corn and potato; their cash crops are mainly sugarcane, mulberry and chestnut; the livestock are mainly pigs and sheep.
The 45 project villages in the project areas have a total cultivated area of 5364ha, and the per capita cultivated area is 0.07ha only, the wooded area is 51141ha. The villages are relatively short of water resources, the water supply for the poor villages in the north mountain areas is mainly brooks, and the water supply for the poor villages in the south rocky mountain areas is mainly small dew ponds, field water tanks and household water tanks built in recent years.
The economic structure of the minorities is still on a preliminary level, appearing as: 1) singular planting and breeding structure; most farmers are still growing traditional crops like paddy, corn, fir and sweet potato, growing traditional livestock like pig, chicken, duck and cattle; 2) owing to the small output of products, there is seldom economic exchange inside a community and between communities, the farmers are still at the stage of self-sufficient small peasant economy; 3) there is almost no added value in farm products, the small amount of exchange with the outside is still primary products, such as fir, tealeaf, tomato, etc.
1. Zhuang nationality