New look in Nam Hung commune (Nam Dan)

(Baonghean) - Coming to Nam Hung, walking on the beautiful, clean new rural roads, running between rows of spacious houses, fertile fields, you can feel the change of the traditional countryside that is strongly striving in the construction of new rural areas.

Countryside rich in tradition

More than half a century ago, Nam Hung commune was a desolate land, "a wild forest and poisonous water". Implementing the province's population dispersal policy, in 1962, people from Xuan Hoa, Van Dien, Nam Trung communes, Nam Dan town, Thanh Luong, Thanh Lam, Ngoc Son communes (Thanh Chuong), Tan Son (Do Luong) came here to reclaim land and settle down.

People of Nam Hung commune (Nam Dan) contribute labor and funds to build rural roads. Photo: Dinh Nguyet

In April 1967, the Ministry of the Interior decided to establish Nam Hung commune, including the cooperatives: Hong Linh, Bac Son, Tan Phong, Tan Nam, Tien Phong and Lam Tien. In 1968, the Party Committee of Nam Hung commune directed the merger of 5 farms into 3 cooperatives: Hung Tien, Hung Thanh and Linh Son. In the early days of establishment, there were many difficulties. In order to develop Nam Hung commune comprehensively, the Party Committee and the government of Nam Hung commune made many efforts to promote internal resources, attract external resources to create momentum for the commune to develop stably and develop. Comrade Nguyen Phung Huy was elected as Secretary of the Party Committee of the commune, comrade Dinh Xuan Hien - Deputy Secretary, the first Chairman of the People's Committee of the commune.

At that time, difficulties piled up when the commune was newly established and affected by the war. The Party Committee and the government of Nam Hung implemented all solutions to stabilize the population, gather solidarity and unity among the people to build a movement of mutual love and mutual assistance to overcome challenges. The people of Nam Hung commune actively participated in the fight, both serving the resistance and competing in production.

Nam Hung Kindergarten meets national standards, teaching and learning quality is increasingly improved. Photo: Dinh Nguyet

Implementing the policy of eliminating subsidies and shifting to a market economy, since 1986, the Party Committee and the government of Nam Hung commune have promoted the mobilization of internal resources to build infrastructure, and at the same time proposed many policies to lead the people to develop the economy, with the orientation of "agriculture and forestry associated with animal husbandry".

Thanks to that, from a poor mountainous commune, Nam Hung has quickly absorbed the application of science and technology in production, animal husbandry, and forestry; diversifying income sources. In the 50-year journey, it is the spirit of solidarity, unanimity, diligence, and creativity of many generations of people here that has "transformed" the poor land into villages and fertile, lush fields.

Prosperity thanks to new rural areas

Nam Hung commune started the new rural construction from a low starting point; only 7/19 criteria have been met. Most of the commune's unfinished criteria require large investment funds. Therefore, the commune has focused on mobilizing internal resources, taking advantage of the central government's target programs, provincial and district policies and mechanisms, and mobilizing contributions from businesses and children from all over the country. In the past 5 years, the commune has mobilized 125 billion VND, of which people contributed over 101 billion VND.

The above resources have helped Nam Hung commune to change its appearance day by day. Electricity, roads, schools, stations, cultural facilities, irrigation, and residential housing have been invested in, ensuring the needs of daily life, production, and business. The commune and hamlet traffic system, with nearly 40 km, has basically been paved with asphalt and concrete or aggregate, ensuring smooth traffic. The irrigation system has been basically upgraded to provide enough water for production.

Farmers in Nam Hung commune (Nam Dan) are actively developing service and construction industries to increase income. Photo: Dinh Nguyet

The facilities for schools are supplemented and newly built every year. Up to now, 3/3 schools have spacious facilities. 10/10 hamlets have hamlet cultural houses, campuses, and stadiums to ensure the service of local cultural and sports activities. In the area, up to now, there are basically no more temporary and dilapidated houses, over 90% of residential houses are solidly built, durable and beautiful.

Identifying economic development as a key task in building new rural areas, Nam Hung promotes the economic advantages of the hilly areas. Currently, over 70% of households have forest land, over 200 households have received contracts to exploit resin. Many households develop garden economy combined with livestock (goats, bees, buffaloes, cows).

In addition, with the convenience of National Highway 15A running through, local people are also active in developing service and business sectors. Many local workers go abroad to work. Thanks to that, the economic life of the people is increasingly improved, the average annual income per capita has increased from 2 - 4 million VND, now reaching 25 million VND/person/year; the poverty rate is only 4.8%.

The movement of the entire population to build a cultural life has developed and spread strongly. Up to now, 10/10 hamlets have achieved the title of cultural hamlet; typically hamlet 3/2 has maintained the title for the past 20 years; over 80% of households have achieved the title of cultural hamlet.

Education and training, learning encouragement, and talent encouragement are given attention. 3/3 schools in the area have been recognized as meeting national standards, and professional quality is ranked among the top in the district. The health station has been invested in upgrading, and the commune has been recognized as meeting the National Health Criteria in 2012; ensuring primary health care for the people. People are aware of environmental sanitation, keeping the countryside clean and beautiful; and the village is peaceful.

Many livestock models are developing and bringing in high income in Nam Hung commune. Photo: Dinh Nguyet

Although the commune has 4/10 hamlets with Catholics, thanks to good coordination with neighboring localities, with the parish pastoral council and parish groups in propaganda work, Catholics and non-Catholics are united; security and order in the hamlets are always stable.

The Party Committee of Nam Hung commune has been recognized as Clean and Strong for 5 consecutive years, the government, the Fatherland Front, and political organizations are recognized annually for excellently completing their tasks. Recognizing the efforts and struggles of the commune's cadres and people in the new rural construction movement, the People's Committee of Nghe An province recognized the commune as meeting the New Rural standards in 2016.

Discussing the development orientation in the coming time, Mr. Nguyen Van Xuan - Chairman of Nam Hung Commune People's Committee said: The locality continues to strive to complete the criteria firmly. In which, focusing on seriously implementing the approved planning criteria, better solving environmental work in the area; promoting the economic advantages of the hilly area, identifying suitable trees and animals and diversifying revenue sources to increase people's income. In addition, continue to promote internal resources to complete the infrastructure of transport, irrigation and some other social welfare works. Continue to better implement the criteria to contribute to bringing the district to the NTM finish line soon".

Dinh Nguyet