Strengthen weaknesses, enhance strengths.

(Baonghean) - Through various solutions and approaches tailored to the practical situation at the grassroots level, following the method of strengthening weaknesses wherever they exist, the grassroots political system in some localities has been consolidated, strengthened, and its effectiveness improved after 10 years of implementing Central Resolution No. 5 (9th Congress) on "Renewing and improving the quality of the grassroots political system in communes, wards, and towns"; and Resolution No. 09-NQ/TU on "Improving the leadership capacity and fighting strength of grassroots Party organizations in Nghe An province in the period 2011-2015"...

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Ky Son, one of the Catholic-majority communes with relatively favorable conditions but a limited grassroots political system from the commune to the hamlet level in previous years, was selected by the Tan Ky District Party Committee as a pilot commune for "Building a strong and comprehensive political system." After nearly three years of implementation, positive results have been achieved, confirming that the solutions proposed are entirely appropriate to the local reality.

Officials from Tan Ky district and Ky Son commune discussed the results of land donation for road construction with residents of Phuong Ky 1 ​​hamlet.

In Phuong Ky 1 ​​hamlet, thanks to the consensus and active mobilization of the people by the Party branch, the hamlet's committee, and the Fatherland Front committee, the three neighborhood groups have joined forces to expand the 6-meter-wide road, leveling the ground in preparation for concrete pouring. Many households have set an example by removing dozens of meters of fences and cutting down hundreds of fruit trees and timber trees. Typical examples include the family of veteran Nguyen Van Hai, who removed over 65 meters of fence; and the family of Nguyen Van Ha, who voluntarily dismantled nearly 40 meters of fence and donated nearly 200 square meters of land. It is known that a few years ago, the security and order situation in Phuong Ky 1 ​​was very complex, with frequent thefts, while the leadership role of the Party branch was weak, and political and social organizations were ineffective. This situation was also a common problem throughout the hamlet units of Ky Son commune. Implementing the policy of building a strong and comprehensive political system in Ky Son commune, Tan Ky District Party Committee, the commune Party Committee determined that consolidating the grassroots political system must begin with improving the quality of Party branch activities, affirming the leadership role of Party branches as the political nucleus at the grassroots level, and improving the quality of activities of mass organizations, associations, and the Fatherland Front... After conducting a field survey to thoroughly understand the situation at the grassroots level, the Steering Committee conducted training on the use of "self-compiled" materials in the spirit of "hands-on guidance," supplementing weaknesses wherever they exist... From this approach, after more than two years of implementation, the model has proven effective. The awareness of Party committees, the government, the Fatherland Front, and mass organizations from the commune to the hamlets has clearly changed, the quality of organization and operation of the political system has improved, and cadres, Party members, and the people are enthusiastic, confident, and supportive of the policies of the higher levels.

The Party Branch Secretary of Phuong Ky 1, Comrade Le Thi Minh Chau, shared: After receiving training, the content of the branch's meetings and resolutions, as well as the discussions, have been based on practical issues at the grassroots level. As a result, Party members voluntarily participate in meetings and contribute their intellect to building the branch. Starting from the reality of a difficult hamlet with few advantages, the branch has diligently directed political organizations to mobilize support and assistance through joint efforts and shared capital for production development. The Women's Association has promoted the development of cotton mattress and blanket production, and the Veterans' Association members have established construction and carpentry groups... The branch has 19 Party members, all of whom are now well-off or wealthy households. Out of 145 households in the hamlet, only 18 remain poor, with an average per capita income of 18 million VND per year. The trust of cadres, Party members, and the people has been further strengthened.

Meanwhile, at Tien Phong 2 Party Branch, which was once classified by the commune's Party Committee as facing one of three risks of losing its branch status: a high percentage of elderly Party members participating in activities, a failure to recruit young Party members for many years, and a lack of attention to the quality of branch activities... Thanks to innovation and improvement in the quality of regular and thematic meetings, the branch has truly become a political nucleus at the grassroots level. From the correct policies and high level of consensus within the branch, Tien Phong 2 hamlet has truly flourished. The entire community has wholeheartedly repaired the main road into the hamlet, the cultural center has been renovated, and models of growing clean vegetables such as water spinach, cabbage, and cauliflower have proven economically effective. The branch has also successfully recruited new members, with three new members admitted in the past three years.

From a commune with many weaknesses, with 7 out of 17 Party branches at risk of losing their organization, the Ky Son Commune Party Committee has risen to achieve and maintain the title of "Strong and Excellent Party Committee," with its movements ranking among the top in the district... Based on this reality, in 2013, the Tan Ky District Party Committee continued to implement the comprehensive strengthening of the political system in the town and one Party committee in the administrative and public service sector, namely Tan Ky High School. Although the time has not been long, there has been a real transformation. For example, in Lat Town, the long-standing issue of outstanding debts, the planning and construction of cemeteries, and the upgrading of inner-city roads have been resolved. Meanwhile, at Tan Ky High School, the basic work of Party branch activities has been strengthened, the sense of responsibility of cadres and Party members has been enhanced, and the quality of teaching has improved. In 2014, along with mobilizing 37 sectors, units, and agencies to register to help communes using the "compensate for weaknesses" method, Tan Ky chose to strengthen the political system in Tan Huong commune, a particularly difficult Catholic commune, following the motto "focus more intensely, prioritize more" to ensure effective implementation. Comrade Phan Van Giap - Head of the Organization Department of the Tan Ky District Party Committee, said: To bring the "Building a Comprehensive and Strong Political System" project into reality, the Standing Committee of the Tan Ky District Party Committee has planned to implement it in a systematic and sequential manner, selecting pilot areas to build and learn from before expanding it to a wider area; Conduct thorough on-site surveys to find appropriate solutions, learning from experience as you go...

Diverse, innovative, and effective.

Unlike Tan Ky, which selected communes as pilot sites and then gradually expanded the model, Anh Son District Party Committee's approach is to adapt to the specific conditions at each local level, focusing on strengthening weaknesses in specific areas and processes. Accordingly, the district continues to maintain the model of the Party Secretary also serving as the Chairman of the People's Committee at the commune level; in some communes with weak leadership personnel, district officials are deployed to assume leadership roles at the grassroots level. Furthermore, to improve the quality of meetings and support grassroots organizations in resolving pressing issues, the District Party Committee Standing Committee decided to send 21 working groups with 160 officials to participate in monthly regular meetings at Party branches under the grassroots Party committees...

Phuc Son commune is the only locality in Anh Son district that implements the model of unifying the positions of Party Secretary and Chairman of the People's Committee. Thanks to the systematic care in Party building and strengthening the political system in the villages, the commune, which used to have many weak units, has now become quite strong and comprehensive. The Cao Veu 1 village Party branch, since its establishment (July 15, 2010) after the division of Cao Veu village into four villages, has consistently achieved the status of a strong and exemplary Party branch. The role of the Party branch in leading and directing the village in economic development, poverty reduction, and building a new cultural life is increasingly evident. Thanks to the consensus between the Party's will and the people's aspirations, Cao Veu 1 village has built a community cultural center worth nearly 400 million VND; and a volleyball court with a lighting system. The people are encouraged to take advantage of opportunities to promote the development of economic models such as hillside gardens and forest gardens... The exemplary conduct and responsibility towards village and commune affairs, and the leading role in developing family economies of Party Branch Secretary Nguyen Ba Ngo of Cao Veu 1 village, have convinced not only Party members in the branch but also households in the village to trust and follow suit. Party Branch Secretary Nguyen Ba Ngo confided: "I have to do well and set a good example for the people to trust and follow me." Cao Veu 1 village is currently establishing a sister village relationship with Phon Muong village - a cluster of Muong Cham villages (Laos) to build solidarity between villages along the Vietnam-Laos border.

Nguyen Huu Minh, Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of the People's Committee of Phuc Son commune, affirmed: As a commune with "5 most" characteristics in Anh Son district (largest area, most populous, largest number of Party branches and Party members, and having the only border) and almost the most difficult commune, thanks to the unification of positions, the establishment of operational regulations, and the unified direction and management of the political system at the grassroots level in Phuc Son, the situation has been increasingly improved. In 2013, the Phuc Son Party Committee was honored to be one of the two outstanding Party committees of Anh Son district.

In 2013, along with choosing the theme "Year of Democracy" focusing on the grassroots, Anh Son district implemented many solutions such as organizing dialogues between the District Party Committee Standing Committee and 320 branch secretaries under the grassroots Party committees; dialogues with 198 contract teachers; and dialogues with the people of Block 3 in the town... Along with sending officials monthly to participate in activities at rural Party branches, this created a strong transformation, contributing to strengthening the grassroots political system. Long-standing issues at the grassroots level that had not been thoroughly addressed, causing public dissatisfaction, such as land issues and social policies, were promptly resolved. The work of improving the quality of Party branch activities, innovating the content and methods of activities, was also rectified, and the political core role of Party branches and the sense of responsibility of Party members were enhanced.

Therefore, to build and strengthen the political system at the grassroots level, localities must base their solutions and approaches on actual conditions, contributing positively to the improvement and enhancement of the leadership capacity of grassroots Party organizations and the practical operation of political organizations. Although there are still difficulties and obstacles, the results achieved in consolidating the grassroots political system are lessons that need to be actively promoted.

Text and photos:Huu Nghia