Border guards stationed in the village

(Baonghean)Faced with the reality that 172 households/821 people of the Dan Lai ethnic minority live in isolation in the core area of ​​Pu Mat National Park (Co Phat and Bung villages, Mon Son commune, Con Cuong district) with many backward customs, especially early marriage and incestuous marriage, Mon Son Border Guard Station has selected capable, enthusiastic and experienced cadres in mass mobilization work to work in these two villages. The cadres and soldiers "stationed in the village" have followed the motto "Perseverance, steadfastness, slow and steady wins the race", "holding hands and showing how to do things".

Major Vo Van Quynh, head of the working group in Bung village, recalled: “The first thing we had to do was to mobilize and help people grow rice, corn, and cassava, combined with raising livestock and poultry to help people quickly eliminate hunger and reduce poverty, because for a long time people mainly lived on hunting and gathering from nature, and were hungry all year round.”



Border Guard medical staff examine people at Bung Village Medical Station
(Mon Son, Con Cuong).

Every day, the soldiers of the working group have worked with the people to reclaim and restore the land to expand the area for rice and other crops, and guide the people to apply farming methods suitable to the soil and climate. With the support of all levels and sectors in terms of capital, seeds, fertilizers, and labor tools, they have worked with the people to reclaim an additional 5 hectares of rice fields. Productivity and output have both increased: in 2007, it was only 1.5 tons/ha, then increased by 0.5 tons/ha, and now it has reached 3.5 tons/ha; some households have taken good care of their crops and followed the correct procedures, achieving 4 - 4.5 tons/ha. The people, who used to lack food for 9 months a year, are now self-sufficient in 3 - 5 months of food a year.

In addition to developing food crops, officers and soldiers of the two working groups also mobilized and helped 100% of households to fence their gardens and renovate their mixed gardens to grow vegetables and fruit trees of all kinds. With the guidance of officers and soldiers, people also know how to take advantage of grazing areas and available food to develop livestock, especially buffalo, cows, black pigs and poultry of all kinds. Some households have initially learned how to do farm economics to combine crop cultivation and livestock raising for a good income, such as the families of Mr. La Van Yeu and Le Van Bao...

In addition to the task of helping people develop the economy and reduce poverty, the two hamlet teams also regularly coordinate with local Party committees and authorities to organize many propaganda campaigns so that people understand the harmful effects of early marriage, incestuous marriage, superstition and other backward customs; integrate propaganda so that people understand the provisions of the law on marriage and family, prevent illegal proselytizing, and build a civilized and cultural life and lifestyle. "We identify this as a regular, continuous and long-term task, because changing people's long-standing habits is not a simple task, and cannot be done in a day or two. Hunger and lack of meals can be solved in a short time, but the situation of people not interacting with other ethnic groups leading to early marriage and incestuous marriage will affect future generations" - Major Nguyen Trung Hoan, head of the working group in Co Phat hamlet shared. The movement of the "settled" soldiers has brought about positive changes: There are young Dan Lai people marrying people of other ethnic groups, the birth rate has decreased compared to before, people actively send their children to school...

With the investment of businesses, 2 military and civilian medical stations have been built here. The military medical team "stays in the village" regularly organizes medical examinations and treatment, primary health care, instructs people on disease prevention, hygienic living, and encourages women to practice contraception and family planning...
The two working groups also selected two party members to temporarily work in the two villages to help the party cells, management boards, and mass organizations operate in an orderly manner, improving the quality and efficiency of their work.

Before 2007, the organizations and unions of the two villages were often rated as weak. However, in 2007 and 2008, the village achieved average results, and in 2009, 2010 and 2011, it was ranked as good. The Party cells had no party members who violated their qualifications, and the village had no lawbreakers. In particular, 1 party member was trained and introduced, and 4 outstanding people are currently being trained to create a source for Party development.

With appropriate methods, specific and close working style, the "settled" soldiers have made an important contribution to the development of Dan Lai people in Con Cuong district.

Hung Phong