Meet the young intellectuals "gold tested by fire"

(Baonghean)- In 2013, when we met young intellectuals with university degrees who were promoted to become vice chairmen of the People's Committees of the poor districts of Que Phong, Tuong Duong, and Ky Son, we found them to be "gold tested by fire". Two years later, meeting them again, we confirmed that they have truly matured, are intellectuals who are trusted by cadres and people; and recognized by authorities at all levels and departments...

People of Na Tong village, Tam Thai commune (Tuong Duong) harvest safe vegetables.

Funny stories

In Thach Giam (Tuong Duong), the first commune recognized as meeting new rural standards among the 3 districts in the province's 30a area, the Vice Chairwoman of the Commune People's Committee, Luong Thi Hien, is a young intellectual of Project 600. Hien was born in 1989, from Phuc Son commune (Anh Son), graduated from the Forestry University. Working in Thach Giam, Hien was assigned to be in charge of agriculture and participate in building new rural areas. Although her major was quite suitable and she was trained for 3 months in professional skills, because she did not understand the language and customs of the people, Hien initially encountered many difficulties. However, with the efforts of young people and the help of grassroots officials and the district, Hien quickly asserted herself. From 2012 to now, for 4 consecutive years, Hien has been assessed as having excellently completed the assigned tasks. According to Mr. Luong Van Ngoan, Party Secretary, Hien is a capable, energetic, active cadre, devoted to work and close to the people.

Vice Chairwoman of Thach Giam Commune People's Committee Luong Thi Hien with a newborn goat from the breeding goat model.

In Tam Thai commune (Tuong Duong), Vi Viet Kieu is recognized as a young cadre, always a pioneer in carrying out tasks. As a local, Kieu clearly understands the reality of small-scale, fragmented, self-sufficient production of his people, so life still faces many difficulties. Therefore, when receiving the task with the attention of the Party Committee and commune leaders, Kieu focused on directing economic development models focusing on groups of beneficiary households, at the same location. "In this way, households in groups and teams will help each other, pay attention to remind each other, and criticize households that do not implement. In terms of economic benefits, many products of a commodity nature will be created, in large quantities, creating product brands," Vi Viet Kieu said. Therefore, in Tam Thai, effective models have been formed such as safe vegetable growing; growing red bananas; raising fish in cages; developing small farms in streams with favorable land and water resources. Besides, with the support of the district, I and the commune officials successfully organized market sessions (on the 14th and 29th of the lunar calendar every month) at Tam Thai market to create a business and trading environment for the people."

Vice Chairman of Tam Thai Commune People's Committee Vi Van Kieu provides technical guidance to a family raising fish in cages in Canh Trap village.

Among the 13 young intellectuals of Project 600 in Tuong Duong, 2 people got married. They are Chu Van Hung (Vice Chairman of Yen Na Commune People's Committee) and Luong Thi Van Anh (Vice Chairman of Huu Khuong Commune People's Committee). Hung was born in 1986, from Dien Truong (Dien Chau), Van Anh was born in 1985, from Thanh Son Commune (Thanh Chuong). Both of them had jobs before coming to Project 600. Van Anh was assigned to work in Huu Khuong Commune, the most difficult area, with no roads, no phone signal, no electricity grid, but she gradually overcame the difficulties and hardships to complete all her work well. Not inferior to his wife, in Yen Na, Chu Van Hung also overcame the initial obstacles, caught up with work and life. Hung advised the Party Committee, the government and participated in many tasks to help Yen Na complete and exceed the set targets and criteria. Among them, the focus is on transforming the crop structure, implementing economic models, improving the productivity and quality of labor of the people, thereby contributing to rapidly reducing the poverty rate. In 2012, the poverty rate of Yen Na commune was 82%, by 2015 it had decreased to 52.8%...

In Muong Long commune (Ky Son), Vice Chairman of the People's Committee Vu Ba Lenh is one of the most energetic and diligent cadres. Lenh spends a lot of time participating in implementing highly effective models, especially the model of raising buffaloes and cows for concentrated fattening. Lenh searches for high-quality buffalo and cow breeds suitable for the local cold climate and then hands them over to poor households such as Xong Sai Khu and Vu Va Long to take care of. With Lenh's guidance, these households all raise cattle well, increase their income and escape poverty in 2014. In Muong Long commune, the total herd of buffaloes and cows has increased compared to previous years...

There are so many funny stories about the young intellectuals of Project 600 in the 3 districts of 30a: Tuong Duong, Ky Son, Que Phong, that they cannot be counted. Through their work, they have left good impressions in the hearts of cadres and people. They are young people with many initiatives, successfully applying scientific and technical advances to livestock production; pioneering in implementing programs and projects, contributing to the socio-economic development of the locality where they work. And more importantly, together with the branches and grassroots organizations, they have created a new, positive breeze, changing the old, backward thinking and ways of doing things for the ethnic minorities in the highlands...

Open future direction

Of the 26 young intellectuals with university degrees who were appointed as vice chairmen of the commune People's Committee under Project 600, 20 were elected to the Party Committee for the 2015-2020 term. In Ky Son district, 5 vice chairmen of the commune People's Committee were elected to the Party Committee, namely Nguyen Dinh Tai, Lo Manh Quan, Phan Van Hoa, Luu Duc Cuong, and Vu Ba Lenh. All 5 are currently studying at the intermediate political class at the Provincial Political School. When meeting the young intellectuals, they are confident of having a solid position in the hearts of cadres, party members, and people where they are working. However, they also confided that Project 600 is nearing its final stage when thinking about their future.

Five young intellectuals of Project 600 in Ky Son are being sent to attend an intermediate political class at the Provincial Political School.

Vice Chairman of Bao Thang Commune People's Committee Phan Van Hoa said that in the 2014 meeting of all young intellectuals in Thanh Hoa province, Project Director, Head of the Department of Youth Affairs (Ministry of Home Affairs) Vu Dang Minh said: "You guys can rest assured to do your job well. The Project Management Board will take care of the future." However, Hoa and his friends are asking themselves the question, in 2016, when the Law on Organization of Government comes into effect, each commune will only be assigned one vice chairman, what will the future be like?

Luong Thi Hien, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Thach Giam Commune, said: "Currently, Thach Giam has been recognized as meeting new rural standards, but the criteria for environment, poor households, income, etc. are still "a bit immature" and need attention. I am the person the commune trusts to develop plans and advise on solutions. I think I will try to do well the tasks assigned by the Party Committee and the government. As for the future, I hope that relevant levels and sectors will consider..."

In fact, the concerns of young intellectuals have not been specifically answered. Looking at the whole country, only about 1/4 of young intellectuals were elected to the Party Committee for the 2015-2020 term. With 20/26 young intellectuals elected to the Party Committee, Nghe An is the province that has made a mark in implementing Project 600. Affirming that bringing young intellectuals to strengthen disadvantaged communes according to Decision 170/QD-TTg of the Prime Minister is a correct policy. Therefore, according to Mr. Bui Tram, Chairman of the People's Committee of Ky Son district, there is no reason not to create conditions for young people with capacity, enthusiasm, who have had a long period of challenges and have made specific contributions to the socio-economic development of the grassroots localities to have to find jobs after the project ends. Mr. Bui Tram affirmed: “I said this when I attended the Project 600 meeting organized by the central government. Ky Son is waiting for instructions and directions from superiors, and has also prepared and reserved a “block” of commune-level civil servants for the children. For communes that cannot arrange them, the district will create conditions for them to be placed in relevant departments and offices…”.

Young cadres of Yen Na commune (Tuong Duong) went to the fields with the people of Bon village.

For us, meeting them again, knowing about the results achieved, seeing the trust and love of the people, and listening to the exchanges of local government representatives, leaders of relevant districts, departments and branches, gives us confidence in the future of the 600 young intellectuals. Hopefully, these young people with capacity, full of enthusiasm and who have overcome challenges will be given the opportunity to study actively and contribute to their homeland!

Regarding the future of young intellectuals when the 600 project ends, Ms. Cao Thi Hien, Director of the Department of Home Affairs, said that this is a Government project, so when the project ends, the Government will have a summary and have a direction for using them. Ms. Hien said: “From the results that have been implemented, the children have affirmed their own value. At the same time, based on the central project, the province has had directions for districts and communes to introduce them into planning and into the Party Committee. That is the clearest concern of the province. As for the future, we need to wait a little longer to have an exact answer. The province has asked the Government and the Ministry of Home Affairs to soon have a summary and assessment when the project ends, and have specific directions for using the children…”.

Nhat Lan