Maintaining peace in the revolutionary countryside.

Expanding the surveillance camera model

In Dai Dong commune of Thanh Chuong district, one of the communes with the largest population after the merger, one can see the cleanliness and spaciousness of the roads in every hamlet. Residents of Hamlet 35 said that for the first time, nearly a dozen security cameras have been installed in frequently used locations, places where people used to illegally dump waste or where gatherings occurred, affecting public order and security. Since the installation of these cameras...security cameraNot only in village 35, but security and order in all 6 villages of Dai Dong commune are always maintained, allowing people to live peacefully and happily. This is especially true after incidents were discovered and handled by the commune police through the extraction of camera footage.

The police in Dai Dong commune, in coordination with local residents, installed security cameras and extracted images to detect violations of the law. Photo: HT

Specifically, the Head of Dai Dong Commune Police, Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Anh Tuan, stated that since installing security surveillance cameras in March 2022, the police force has detected one theft case and recovered 15 million VND for the citizen. A resident lost 16 million VND, and thanks to camera footage, the finder was tracked down and the money was returned to the owner. In addition, the cameras have monitored and detected several citizens illegally dumping garbage. Seeing the effectiveness of the camera system, residents of Dai Dong commune's villages have been very supportive and unanimously contributed funds to ensure 100% coverage of security cameras in all hamlets, with 32 cameras across 6 villages.

Speaking about the effectiveness of security monitoring through community cameras, Vice Chairman of the Fatherland Front Committee of Thanh Chuong district, Le Thiet Hung, said that this is one of the earliest communes to implement the model in the district. “The deployment of the community surveillance camera model was carried out by the District Fatherland Front Committee in coordination with the police force starting in March 2022. After more than a month of launching the initiative, 250 cameras have been installed throughout Thanh Chuong district. The installation of cameras has initially yielded practical results, and the grassroots Fatherland Front continues to mobilize self-governing groups to expand the camera model.”community monitoringthroughout the district."

Leaders of the Thanh Chuong District Fatherland Front Committee inspect the community security camera model in Dai Dong commune. Photo: HT

The effectiveness of model self-governing groups.

To maintain peace in rural areas, in addition to expanding the community security camera model, the Vietnam Fatherland Front and the Party committees and authorities of Thanh Chuong district have also built...Self-governing groupModel Self-Management Teams. Mr. Le Manh Hung stated that, based on the Self-Management Teams for Security and Order established under Decision No. 57/2006/QD-UBND dated June 9, 2006, of the Provincial People's Committee, the Standing Committee of the District Fatherland Front Committee, in coordination with the District Police, developed and issued a plan to build model self-management teams linked to the implementation of grassroots democracy regulations, with 10 contents across all fields. Initially, each commune registered at least 3-5 model self-management teams, and selected one team to launch as a pilot project. From there, the model was expanded, and to date, Thanh Chuong has 301 teams registered to build model self-management teams out of a total of 2,223 teams under Decision 57/UBND after the hamlet merger.

Each model self-governing group is built on the basis of neighboring households living together in the residential area. Depending on the conditions of each location, the group is appropriately sized to ensure easy discussion and consensus, while also creating collective strength. Besides implementing work tasks, the activities of the model self-governing groups also focus on caring for the younger generation, encouraging children to be well-behaved and excel in their studies; and promoting healthy and beneficial activities, keeping them away from social vices. Many groups have established scholarship and talent promotion funds, providing support during times of joy and sorrow, totaling 1,267 million VND, creating a beautiful cultural aspect and strengthening community solidarity. In addition, members always offer close support and encouragement; if a family experiences a major event, whether joyful or sad, the group leader informs the entire group so they can coordinate with the family to handle the matter according to the group's regulations.

For example, in Self-Management Group No. 8 of Thanh Lien commune, there are 15 households with 51 residents. Recognized as a model self-management group in November 2019, the households have maintained a spirit of unity and high responsibility in community building, especially in supporting the construction of new rural areas and upholding the criteria of a model self-management group. This includes 100% of households fulfilling all fund contributions; having waste disposal pits and sanitary facilities at home; not violating family planning regulations; and having no members involved in law violations or social vices. The households in Group 8 also contributed 155 million VND to the construction of a standard road; and built 90 flowerbeds and planted trees along a 1km stretch of road.

Officials from the Thanh Chuong District Party Committee discussed with the village committee of Hamlet 4 about the effectiveness of implementing the model self-governing group at the grassroots level. Photo: HT

Or, for example, in Hamlet 4, Thanh Phong Commune, before the hamlet merger in 2020, the inter-hamlet and inter-commune roads did not meet requirements, with many sections not yet paved with concrete. After the merger of Hamlets 2 and 4 and a part of Hamlet 2 into Hamlet 4, the self-governing groups were "upgraded" to...security and public orderIn Hamlet 4, seven self-governing groups were established, each with a group leader who receives policies and guidelines from the Party committee and government to relay to group members. Simultaneously, group meetings are held to gather opinions on the implementation of village affairs. As a result, in a short time, the people of Hamlet 4 donated dozens of meters of fences and hundreds of square meters of land to build new rural roads, install village lighting, and renovate the cultural center, preparing to "move forward" to building a model new rural area.

According to Phan Manh Hung, Secretary of the Thanh Phong Commune Party Committee, not only in Hamlet 4, but also in the commune where 17 hamlets were merged into 7 villages, the expanded area of ​​the hamlets has made the model self-governing groups a "right hand" assisting village officials and Party and government leaders in implementing and disseminating policies and work content to every citizen. At the same time, through these model self-governing groups, the government can promptly grasp the feedback, thoughts, and aspirations of the people. Therefore, for many years, Thanh Phong has had virtually no complaints or petitions submitted to higher levels, and the people have shown high levels of consensus with the government in building peaceful and happy villages.

“After more than a year of implementation in Thanh Chuong district, over 300 model self-governing groups have been launched and are operating effectively. In particular, since the establishment of these model self-governing groups, the rate of theft within the groups and neighborhoods has significantly decreased; there are no children involved in social vices; there are no children dropping out of school, malnourished children, or households owing taxes and funds to the State and locality; and there is no longer any situation ofdomestic violence"The rate of culturally exemplary families in model self-governing groups has reached 95% or higher. Through the implementation of this model, people have participated in village and hamlet activities more actively and responsibly. The self-governing group model is an 'extended arm,' a foundation for building and strengthening the implementation of the motto 'self-governance, self-prevention, self-protection, and self-reconciliation,' contributing to bringing peaceful life to villages and hamlets," Mr. Le Manh Hung affirmed.