Bring officials closer to the people.

(Baonghean)Que Phong District is home to seven ethnic groups: Kinh, Thai, Khmu, Mong, Tho, Tay, and Chut. The lives of these ethnic minorities remain difficult, with the poverty rate currently at 41.18%. In recent years, in addition to support programs and policies from the Party and State, in 2012, the District People's Committee issued Decision 368/QD-UBND assigning schools, units, and departments in the district to sponsor poor households with specific methods.

The family of Mr. Vi Văn Du in Ná Tọc village, Quế Sơn commune, invested in livestock farming after receiving sponsorship from the District People's Committee Office.

Following the officials from the Que Phong District People's Committee Office, we visited the families of Mr. Vi Van Lang in Na Ca village and Mr. Vi Van Du in Na Toc village, Que Son commune. Both families have been 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, excitedly said: "After getting married in 2006, with our savings and loans from relatives and the bank, my husband and I built a three-room wooden house. However, due to a lack of knowledge in livestock farming and production, poverty continued to plague us. In early 2013, officials from the District People's Committee Office came to guide us on how to do business, such as raising breeding pigs and cows, growing vegetables, and how to care for rice to achieve high yields… Following the officials' guidance, the family bought two breeding pigs, utilized their garden land to grow vegetables, and raised laying hens."

During the production process, thanks to regular visits and encouragement from district officials, the couple was enthusiastic and continued to work hard. As a result, their 7a rice paddies (700 m2) yield 5 quintals of rice annually, their two sows are nearing their first litter, and the vegetables in their garden provide enough food for the family. At the end of 2013, the family escaped poverty and received a wall clock and a warm blanket from officials of the District People's Committee Office, which was a great source of encouragement for the family.

The family of Mr. Vi Van Du in Na Toc village, formerly a poor household, escaped poverty at the end of 2013 thanks to guidance from officials of the District People's Committee Office. Mr. Du shared: “The officials of the District People's Committee Office didn't have money to support the family, but they enthusiastically guided us on how to do business, so everything we do is more efficient than before. For example, raising pigs and breeding cows, clearing the garden to grow vegetables… all were guided by the officials using scientific methods. With six people in the family, we have work all year round, enough rice to eat, and the pigs and cows have already given 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 District People's Council and People's Committee Office presented a wall clock and a warm blanket.” Mr. Du added that poor households often lack knowledge of science and technology in livestock farming and production, so guidance from officials is the most sustainable way to escape poverty.

Mr. Phan Trong Dung, Chief of the Office of the People's Committee of Que Phong District, said: In implementing Decision No. 368/QD-UBND of the District People's Committee on assigning poverty eradication targets to units in the district, the Office of the People's Committee of the district has planned to assist 10 poor households in Que Son commune. Accordingly, in 2013, the unit assisted two households: Vi Van Lang, Na Ca village, and Vi Van Du, Na Toc village. At the time of assistance, these two households were classified as poor, but had the potential to escape poverty because the husband and wife were healthy and had sufficient land and gardens. The approach of the Office of the People's Committee of the district was not to provide material support, but to guide them on how to do business. After surveying the conditions of each family, the unit assigned staff to directly guide family members on how to do business. An evaluation was conducted every three months to learn from the experience. Once that family escaped poverty, the staff and employees of the office contributed money, bought gifts, and encouraged the family. Afterwards, the unit continued to monitor and guide them on how to do business to prevent them from falling back into poverty.

The District Inspectorate has a different approach. Mr. Truong Dinh Xuan, Chief Inspector of the district, said: The unit was assigned the task of supporting poor households in Quang Phong commune, a locality far from the district center with difficult transportation. From 2012 to 2015, the unit assisted six poor households. After surveying and researching the potential and advantages of the locality, the unit initially intended to introduce passion fruit cultivation for these households, but deemed it unsuitable. With the advice of the local government, these households, living near rice fields, had the advantage of raising Quy Chau ducks. However, due to a lack of ducklings, they switched to raising local black pigs. Currently, the District Inspectorate is coordinating with the local government to purchase breeding stock locally, with each officer and employee contributing a day's salary to buy piglets for the poor households. Mr. Xuan shared: "The district inspectorate only has 3 staff members, so helping poor households escape poverty faces many difficulties. However, with a spirit of focusing on the poor, everyone is willing to deduct a portion of their monthly salary and take advantage of their time to support them. This is what allows each staff member to interact with the people and help them in a practical way."

The poverty reduction program implemented by sponsoring units in Que Phong district, from 2012 to 2015, has been underway for two years. It shows that some units have actively participated with a high sense of responsibility, demonstrating the leadership and guidance of the Party committees and government at all levels. Examples include the District Inspectorate, the District People's Committee Office, the District General Hospital, the District Party Committee Office, the Youth Union, and the Mass Mobilization Department. Some households that received assistance, although not yet out of poverty, have increased their income from 180,000 VND/person/month to 360,000 VND/person/month.

At the recent conference summarizing the two-year implementation of poverty reduction programs sponsored by units, schools, departments, and agencies during the 2012-2015 period, many opinions suggested that the implementation of Decision 368/QD-UBND of the Que Phong District People's Committee faced several difficulties, such as the reluctance of some people to escape poverty and the mentality of dependence and reliance. The limited resources of some units led to many units, especially most schools, not yet participating. Ms. Truong Thi Tuyet Mai, Vice Chairman of the Que Phong District People's Committee, stated: The entire district has 111 units, schools, departments, and agencies assigned the task of sponsoring and assisting poor households to escape poverty according to the district's directive. However, to date, only 17 units, departments, agencies, and schools have submitted detailed reports. Accordingly, the entire district has seen 41 households escape poverty thanks to the assistance of district-level units and departments. Thus, the number of households sponsored by various units over the past two years is still not large, mainly because many units, departments, and offices have not yet gotten involved. Some units have even started, but haven't found a concrete way to implement it. In the coming time, the District People's Committee will continue to urge units to actively and effectively participate, considering this a primary task for every official and Party member.

Assigning schools, units, departments, and agencies to assist poor households in localities not only contributes to the district's poverty reduction efforts but also plays a crucial role in bringing officials closer to the people, fostering a better understanding of their realities. This, in turn, leads to the development of more relevant policies. Therefore, maintaining and finding new ways to improve the effectiveness of this work is essential.

Xuan Hoang