Bringing officials closer to the people

(Baonghean) -Que Phong district has 7 ethnic groups living together: Kinh, Thai, Kho Mu, Mong, Tho, Tay and Chut. The lives of the ethnic people are still difficult, the poverty rate is currently 41.18%. In recent years, in addition to the support programs and policies of the Party and the State, in 2012, the District People's Committee issued Decision 368/QD-UBND assigning schools, units, departments and offices in the district to sponsor poor households, with specific methods.

Mr. Vi Van Du's family in Na Toc village, Que Son commune invested in livestock farming after being sponsored by the District People's Committee Office.

Following the staff of the Que Phong District People's Committee Office, we visited the family of Mr. Vi Van Lang in Na Ca village and the family of Mr. Vi Van Du in Na Toc village, Que Son commune. Both families were sponsored by the District People's Committee Office to help them escape poverty since the end of 2013. Mr. Vi Van Lang's wife, Ms. Lo Thi Huong, happily said: After getting married in 2006, with the savings, along with loans from brothers, sisters, and banks, the couple was able to build a 3-room wooden house. However, due to a lack of knowledge in animal husbandry and production, poverty continued to haunt them. In early 2013, the staff of the District People's Committee Office directly came to guide them on how to do business, such as raising sows and breeding cows, growing vegetables, and how to care for rice to achieve high productivity... Following the staff's instructions, the family bought 2 breeding pigs, used the garden land to grow vegetables, and raised laying hens.

During the production process, the district officials often visited and encouraged the couple, so they were excited to follow. Therefore, 7a of rice fields (700 m2) each year yielded 500 kg of rice, 2 sows were about to give birth for the first time, and vegetables in the home garden were enough to provide meals for the family. At the end of 2013, the family escaped poverty and received a wall clock and a warm blanket from the district People's Committee Office, which was a great source of encouragement for the family.

Mr. Vi Van Du's family in Na Toc village, formerly a poor household, was guided by the staff of the District People's Committee Office on how to do business and escaped poverty at the end of 2013. Mr. Du shared: "The staff of the District People's Committee Office did not have money to support the family, but enthusiastically guided them on how to do business, so everything the family did was more effective than before. Like raising pigs, breeding cows, clearing the garden to grow vegetables... the staff guided them on how to do it scientifically, the family of 6 people had work all year round, enough rice to eat, pigs and cows gave birth to their first litter. At the end of 2013, Mr. Du's family escaped poverty. In recognition of the family's efforts, at the end of the year, the Office of the District People's Council - People's Committee presented a wall clock and a warm blanket. Mr. Du continued, poor households often lack knowledge of science and technology in animal husbandry and production, so the staff's guidance on how to do it is the most sustainable way to escape poverty."

Mr. Phan Trong Dung - Chief of Office of Que Phong District People's Committee, said: Implementing Decision No. 368/QD-UBND of the District People's Committee on assigning hunger eradication and poverty reduction targets to units in the district, the District People's Committee Office has a plan to receive assistance for 10 poor households in Que Son commune. Accordingly, in 2013, the unit received assistance for 2 households: Vi Van Lang, Na Ca village and Vi Van Du, Na Toc village. When receiving assistance, these 2 households were poor households, but the conditions for escaping poverty were possible, because the couple was healthy, had enough fields and gardens. The way the District People's Committee Office worked was not to support or help with material things, but to guide them on how to do business. After surveying the conditions of each family, the unit assigned officers and employees to directly guide the family members on how to do business. After 3 months, the unit evaluated once to gain experience. When the household has escaped poverty, the staff and office workers contribute money, buy gifts, and encourage the family. After that, the unit continues to monitor and guide them on how to do business so as not to fall back into poverty.

The District Inspectorate has a different approach. Mr. Truong Dinh Xuan - Chief Inspector of the District, said: The unit was assigned to support poor households in Quang Phong commune, a locality far from the district center, with many difficulties in transportation. During the period of 2012 - 2015, the unit received support from 6 poor households. After surveying and studying the potential and advantages of the locality, the unit initially intended to introduce passion fruit trees for households to grow, but found it unsuitable. With the advice of the local government, these households live near the fields, which have the advantage of raising Quy Chau ducks. However, because there is no place to supply duck breeds, they have switched to raising local black pigs. Currently, the District Inspectorate is coordinating with the local government to purchase pig breeds locally, accordingly, each officer and employee of the unit contributes a day's salary to buy pig breeds for poor households. Mr. Xuan confided: The district inspectorate has only 3 officers and employees, so the work of helping poor households escape poverty is not without difficulties, but with the spirit of supporting poor households, everyone is willing to deduct a part of their monthly salary, take advantage of their time, and come to support poor households. This is the condition that helps each officer to contact the people and help them in a practical way.

The program of implementing poverty reduction by sponsored units of Que Phong district, phase 2012 - 2015 has been implemented for 2 years, showing that some units have actively participated with a high sense of responsibility, demonstrating the leadership and direction of the Party committees and authorities at all levels. Typically, the District Inspectorate, the District People's Committee Office, the District General Hospital, the District Party Committee Office, the Youth Union, the Mass Mobilization Committee, etc. Some households that received support, although not yet out of poverty, have increased their income from 180,000 VND/person/month to 360,000 VND/person/month.

At the conference to review 2 years of implementing poverty reduction by units, schools, departments, and branches in the period of 2012 - 2015, many opinions said that in the process of implementing Decision 368/QD-UBND of the District People's Committee, there were some difficulties such as the mentality of a part of the people not wanting to escape poverty, still having the mentality of waiting and relying on others. The resources of some units are difficult, leading to many units, especially most of the schools not taking part. Ms. Truong Thi Tuyet Mai - Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Que Phong district, said: The whole district has 111 units, schools, departments, and branches assigned to sponsor and help poor households escape poverty under the direction of the district. However, up to now, only 17 units, departments, departments, branches, and schools have reported specifically. Accordingly, the whole district has 41 households that have escaped poverty thanks to the help of units, departments, and branches at the district level. Thus, the number of households sponsored by units after 2 years is not much, the reason is that many units, departments and offices have not yet taken part. There are even units that have implemented it, but have not found a specific way to do it. In the coming time, the District People's Committee will continue to urge units to take part in a positive and effective manner, considering this the main task of each cadre and party member.

The assignment of schools, units, departments, and sectors to help poor households in localities not only helps the poverty reduction work of the district, but also has an important meaning in bringing cadres to the people, closer to the people, and understanding the reality of the people better. From there, the construction of policies related to the people is more realistic. Therefore, maintaining and finding new ways to improve the effectiveness of this work is very necessary.

Xuan Hoang