Con Cuong: Enhancing the capacity of the grassroots political system.

(Baonghean)The 25th Congress of the Con Cuong District Party Committee (2010-2015 term) set forth 24 basic objectives. Halfway through the implementation of the Congress Resolution, Con Cuong district identified 9 important objectives that would be difficult to achieve, and therefore proposed strong solutions, with a focus on improving the capacity of the grassroots political system being considered a key solution...

Changes

To date, the average economic growth rate of Con Cuong district over the two years (2011-2012) reached 8.5%, equivalent to 53.12% of the congress target (16-17%). The average added value per capita in 2013 was estimated at VND 15,306,000, a 23% increase compared to 2010, equivalent to 45.01% of the congress target. The economic structure has shifted in the right direction: Agriculture, forestry, and fisheries are estimated at 47.53% in 2013. Industry, construction, and services are estimated at 52.47%. The national target movement for building new rural areas has been implemented across all 12 communes. With cement support from the province (6367 tons) and funding from the VIE28 project and Program 135, Con Cuong has constructed 57.57 km of rural concrete roads. Assessment based on the new rural development criteria (Decision 491) in 2012: 1 commune met 9/19 criteria; 3 communes met 8/19 criteria; 2 communes met 7/19 criteria; 1 commune met 6/19 criteria; 4 communes met 5/19 criteria…

Throughout Con Cuong district, the image of the new rural area is evident in many villages. In the communes of Bong Khe, Yen Khe, and Luc Da, interspersed among the modern tiled-roof and stilt houses, and the budding orange and tea gardens are smooth, clean concrete roads. In Mon Son commune, which has 35 km of border with Laos, transportation is difficult, but there have been many noticeable changes. The villages are clean and tidy, and in the fields, the rice plants are lush green, foreshadowing a bountiful harvest.

According to the leaders of Mon Son commune, annual economic growth has reached 16-17%, with agriculture, forestry, and fisheries achieving 11.2%/14% of the target; small-scale industries and construction achieving 20.5%/23% of the target; and trade and services achieving 15%/20% of the target. The average total food production reached 4,454.2 tons, and the production value reached 53,163,133,000 VND/91,465,000,000 VND, the target set by the Party Congress... Mr. Vi Van Tu - Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of the commune, happily stated: After half of the term, generally speaking, the economic sector has achieved quite high results, the economic structure has shifted in the right direction, and all aspects of people's lives have improved significantly...



Officials from Con Cuong district visited the frog farming model of Mr. Ngan Van Hoa's household in Thai Son 1 village, Mon Son commune.

In the communes of Mau Duc, Don Phuc, and Binh Chuan, the landscape of the countryside has changed dramatically. The enormous potential of the forest economy in these areas is evident in the dozens of kilometers of rolling hills, covered in an endless green of bamboo and acacia forests. Binh Chuan is a remote commune in Con Cuong district, with difficult transportation, slow infrastructure development, low levels of education, and many outdated customs and traditions. However, it has made quite positive progress. The villages of Binh Chuan seem to be awakening in the new rural development movement. In Dinh village, local officials and people are very enthusiastic about the new concrete road that they themselves contributed money and labor to build.

Mr. Chuong Van Hai, head of Dinh village, said: "When we learned that the government was providing cement, the people of Dinh village immediately supported it. The road foundation was already in place, and the people contributed money to buy sand and gravel, then worked together on the construction, so after only a few days, we had a convenient concrete road...". Ms. Lo Thi May, 29 years old, whose house is at the end of Dinh village, simply said: "Before, traveling was difficult and arduous, especially during rainy and flood days. Now, with the concrete road, bringing rice and firewood home is much easier..."

There were quite a few difficulties.

It can be affirmed that, up to the present time, all localities in Con Cuong district have undergone significant changes compared to the period before 2010. However, Con Cuong district has identified that out of the 24 objectives set forth in the Resolution of the Party Congress, 9 important objectives will be difficult to achieve good results without effective solutions in the coming time. These include: average growth rate; economic structure proportion; average added value per capita/year; level of mobilization of social investment capital; percentage of trained labor; number of communes meeting national standards for health; percentage of families meeting cultural standards; percentage of communes with cultural, information and sports facilities meeting national standards; and percentage of waste collected in rural areas.

According to Mr. Vi Van Son, Permanent Deputy Secretary of the District Party Committee, there are many reasons why Con Cuong is having difficulty achieving the nine important goals mentioned above. The subjective reasons identified at the local level include: The leadership of the Party committees and authorities at both levels in some areas has not been decisive enough; the resolution of some prominent issues has been slow and ineffective; and administrative reform still has limitations in some aspects.

Furthermore, in the coordination of leadership, direction, and management among different levels, sectors, and organizations within the political system, there have been instances of inconsistencies. The understanding and guidance of public opinion and ideology have sometimes been untimely, and the mentality of dependence, expectation, and reliance among some cadres, Party members, and the people has been slow to be overcome. Simultaneously, the nationwide economic downturn and complex weather patterns are objective factors that have resulted in some of Con Cuong district's proposed projects not being realistic and having low feasibility.

Enhancing the capacity of the grassroots political system.

To successfully achieve the goals of the 25th Party Congress, Con Cuong district has sought numerous solutions for each sector, including agriculture, industry, and services. Simultaneously, it has focused on effectively exploiting all potential and resources, strongly shifting the economic structure, continuing to transform crop and livestock structures towards commercial production, and applying scientific and technological advancements. It has also focused on effective forest management and protection, reforestation, and the development of forest-garden and farm economies. Furthermore, it has actively attracted investment, promoted the development of industry and handicrafts, and accelerated the construction of key projects serving socio-economic development. The district has expanded service and trade activities, prioritizing investment in tourism development.

A top priority identified by the Con Cuong District Party Committee as a key driver for achieving specific goals is to effectively build the Party and the political system. To accomplish this task, the Con Cuong District Party Committee continues to focus on consolidating and enhancing the leadership role and quality of Party organizations at all levels, and is resolutely implementing Resolution No. 09-NQ/TU dated March 13, 2012, of the Provincial Party Committee on “Improving the leadership capacity and fighting strength of grassroots Party organizations in Nghe An province, 2011-2015”; the Project “Training and fostering leading and managerial cadres in Nghe An province, 2012-2020”; and Conclusions No. 09 and 10-KL/TU of the Provincial Party Committee. The Con Cuong District Party Committee has approved the Project "Improving the leadership capacity and fighting strength of grassroots Party organizations in Con Cuong district, 2012 - 2015".

To improve the quality of the workforce, Party committees at all levels have strengthened inspection work, identifying shortcomings and weaknesses, and taking strict measures to handle cadres and Party members who violate ethics, conduct, and Party principles. During this period, Party committees inspected 74 Party organizations and 80 Party members, resulting in disciplinary action against 4 cadres and Party members who violated regulations; Party building committees inspected 32 organizations and 64 Party members. The two-level Inspection Committee inspected 28 Party organizations and 53 Party members, resulting in violations found in 21 organizations and 30 Party members.

Along with that, the Con Cuong District Party Committee set forth the task of focusing on improving the training and development of cadres; consolidating and enhancing knowledge of Party building work and practical experience for cadres and Party members, especially those in leadership positions at agencies, units, and grassroots levels. Emphasis was placed on training Party work for branch secretaries, branch committee members, committee members, and all Party members. Timely identification and commendation of exemplary cadres who are dynamic, creative, daring to think and act, and exemplary in studying and following the moral example of Ho Chi Minh were also emphasized. In the first half of the term, Con Cuong district commended 14 exemplary collectives and 33 exemplary individuals for their achievements in studying and following the moral example of Ho Chi Minh.

It can be said that the Con Cuong Party Committee's decision to focus on improving the capacity of the grassroots political system is extremely important and necessary. Because, if the grassroots Party members and officials lack competence and responsibility, it will be very difficult to achieve the goals set for the remaining half of the term.

Nhat Lan