Proactively and confidently build new rural areas

(Baonghean) - Thoroughly grasping the requirements of the task, clearly understanding the difficulties of a province with the largest area in the country, many areas of complex mountainous and coastal terrain, and an average income per capita of only 70% of the national average, Nghe An has been proactive and creative in building new rural areas.

Phuc Thanh incense production, Yen Thanh. Photo: Thu Huong

Nghe An is the first locality to establish a Steering Committee for the implementation of the National Target Program on New Rural Development, with Coordination Offices at provincial and district levels and Program Management Boards at commune level, Community Monitoring Boards and Village Development Boards operating professionally and full-time. Operating regulations and specific tasks are assigned to each department and individual in the working groups to direct and supervise in localities. Departments, branches and sectors establish working groups to advise and direct the implementation of criteria under their respective sectors....

A series of synchronous solutions have been resolutely implemented by all levels in the spirit of Resolution 03-NQ/TU on promoting the implementation of the 2011-2020 Program; Directive No. 16-CT/TU dated July 24, 2013 of the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee; Resolutions of the Provincial People's Council, Decisions and Action Plans of the Provincial People's Committee on new rural construction. The province also issued a set of temporary criteria for model new rural communes; policies on planning, design and construction of rural traffic with cement concrete surface; support for cement for rural traffic concrete roads; Policy on rewarding welfare works for communes meeting new rural standards; encouraging the construction of production development models and "large model fields". Functional departments issued instructions on implementing specialized criteria. Many districts, cities and towns have policies to reward and support communes in building new rural areas, such as supporting cement, transportation costs and concrete mixers...

Information and propaganda work on building new rural areas has also been strengthened, always innovating content, methods and diversifying forms. The provincial television station and Nghe An newspaper have increased the time, opened special pages and columns to propagate and popularize the activities of the Program; content and methods of mobilizing people's strength; discovered and popularized good models, creative methods, and lessons learned from practical implementation of the program. Political and social organizations have actively attracted members to participate in the program, through the campaigns "All people unite to build cultural life in residential areas" associated with building new rural areas; organized a contest of journalism on new rural areas and a scientific seminar on "The role of the political system at the grassroots level in building new rural areas"; deployed many models: "Women's groups self-managing rural roads", "Women join hands to build new rural areas"; “Nghe An Youth join hands to build new rural areas”, “Elderly people join hands to build new rural areas”. Many Party committees have proactively selected and developed specialized resolutions to effectively lead the implementation of many pressing issues and legitimate aspirations of the people; promptly remove difficulties and obstacles from the grassroots level; enhance the sense of responsibility of cadres at all levels and sectors, create high consensus and agreement throughout the political system; gain the people's support, consolidate awareness of the meaning and purpose of the program and their role as the subject.

After 5 years of implementing the program, the total mobilized capital and integrated implementation of the Program has reached about 21 trillion VND (enterprise capital accounts for 8%, people's capital contributes 31%). Up to now, 100% (431/431) communes have completed the approval of the Project and Planning for New Rural Construction at the commune level; 25% of communes have met 19/19 New Rural criteria; 12.5% ​​of communes have met 15-18 criteria; only 6.3% of communes have met less than 5 criteria. The poverty rate of the whole province is now only 10.28% according to the poverty standard for the period 2011-2015 (in 2011 it was 18.79%). The average income per capita in rural areas has increased from 12 million in 2010 to more than 17 million VND. The economic structure is having many positive changes.

Building new rural areas in Nghe An is not only considered the top political, economic and social task of organizations and leaders at all levels, but also becomes a common awareness and a daily, proactive and self-conscious action of the local community. This is the main characteristic and decisive factor for the success of the implementation of the National Target Program on New Rural Construction in Nghe An.

The results and experiences that have been achieved are and will continue to create momentum in the coming time for Nghe An province to proactively and confidently reap more successes in building new rural areas, striving to have 50% of communes and 4 district-level units meet new rural standards by the end of 2020 and no communes below 7 criteria; improve the quality of life of people in the area and increasingly shine in the movement to successfully implement the national target program on building new rural areas in general in the country. However, building new rural areas requires a roadmap, a sure step and some communes should not be willful or hasty.

Dr. Nguyen Minh Phong