Thousands of frontline laborers met each other, excited as if it were the day they joined the army.
(Baonghean) - Up to now, in the whole province, the payment of benefits for the subjects of the frontline workers through the basic periods has been completed. Almost all the documents proposed at the grassroots levels have been reviewed and approved.
Excited like the day of joining the army
On the day of paying allowances to former youth volunteers, from early morning, the hall of Nghi Loc District People's Committee was packed with old men and women wearing uniforms and floppy hats, radiant as in their twenties.
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| Nghi Loc District Military Command pays benefits according to Decision 49 for citizens participating in frontline laborers. Photo courtesy |
“Since the commune announced that the State would pay allowances to the frontline workers, we were extremely happy. Although the allowances were not much, they were still a source of encouragement and recognition for us. Through this occasion, we were able to meet each other and reminisce about the time when we “went to the gong and went, and eagerly set out to the road when we heard the drums.”
Mr. Chu is 76 years old this year and many people in Nghi Van commune who are lucky enough to still be alive today were once supply workers supporting the Southern battlefield on Highway 7 and Highway 1A.
“There is no need to mention all the dangers when enemy planes buzzed overhead, when bomb craters were leveled and turned into abysses, and comrades fell right next to us, while we were eating a rice ball,” Mr. Chu recalled. After being demobilized and returning to their hometown, laborers like Mr. Chu worked hard, increased production, and were always shining examples for the younger generation to follow.
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| The frontline militia transported food to the battlefield. Photo: Archive |
Among those receiving the compensation for the frontline workers this time, there are also families whose fathers and sons were frontline workers during the anti-French period and have now passed away. Present at the hall, Mr. Phan Dinh Thin's daughter could not hide her tears of joy and regret, saying: "If my father were still alive, he would be very happy. When he was alive, he always talked about the time when the whole commune joined the army for the South. Although he was only mobilized for 5 months, for him it was a difficult but extremely meaningful time."
“Most of the people who participated in the frontline laborers were mobilized between 1952 and before 1975, so it was difficult to keep their documents. The commune based on the Golden Book of policy beneficiaries, the times of mobilization of frontline laborers and the declarations of the beneficiaries to submit the list to the authorities. Many people were very happy because not only did they receive 2-3.5 million VND, but they were also given health insurance cards, a very meaningful gift for the elderly and the weak.”
Mr. Nguyen Dinh Thang - Policy Officer of Nghi Loc District Military Command said: "In order to pay 11,629 subjects in a timely and accurate manner, the policy officers at all levels of the district have focused their human resources to carefully review and approve the records, so as not to miss any subjects. A set of documents for declaring the civilian labor regime only needs to determine the time of going to the civilian labor force, the place of departure, and the time of mobilization. Therefore, to be accurate, policy officers at all levels need to grasp the list over the periods as well as whether the time of declaration of the subjects is consistent with the time of previous mobilization by the commune or not."
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| Bicycle porter company of Dien Chau district. Photo courtesy |
The policy for frontline laborers participating in the resistance war against France and the US, the war to defend the Fatherland and performing international duties is stipulated in Decision No. 49/2015/QD-TTg of the Prime Minister and is implemented nationwide.
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| The majority of frontline laborers were only mobilized in batches of 3-5 months from 1952 to April 30, 1974. Photo courtesy |
According to the report of the Provincial Military Command, in 2015, implementing Decision 49, the total number of initial survey subjects was 152,647 subjects. But after 2 years, the Provincial Military Command received 206,615 applications. Of which, 6,884 applications were returned to additional subjects, 1,120 applications were not qualified.
According to Mr. Nguyen Tu Ha - Officer of the Policy Department, Provincial Military Command, the reason for the number of received applications exceeding the initial survey number by 53,968 cases is because the propaganda work in some localities is not timely and effective, the people and policy subjects do not clearly understand the Party and State's policies and guidelines for people with meritorious services, so the information provided is incorrect and insufficient, leading to the survey not having a tight grasp of data...
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| Tan Ky District Military Command pays allowances to the subjects participating in the frontline laborers in the area. Photo courtesy |
Mr. Nguyen Dinh Thang - Nghi Loc District Military Command said: "The coordination in reviewing documents in some communes is still not tight, the review is not in accordance with the process, in particular, there is a commune policy council that organizes the review many times in 1 month, each time only reviewing 5-7 documents, not fully understanding the instructions from above, so the number of documents must be returned many times, causing trouble for the subjects and difficulties for the district review council".
“Most importantly, with a large volume and wide range of subjects, we have made payments in a timely manner, receiving recognition and excitement from the masses, especially those who have participated in the frontline laborers and their families.”
According to regulations, the beneficiaries of the policy under Decision No. 49/2015/QD-TTg are frontline laborers participating in the resistance war against France, against the US, the war to protect the Fatherland and performing international duties, during the following time and locations:
- The frontline laborers participated in the resistance war against the French from September 1945 to July 20, 1954; participated in the resistance war against the Americans from July 20, 1954 to April 30, 1975. The areas of duty were nationwide and in Laos and Cambodia.
- The frontline laborers participated in the war to protect the Fatherland at the southwestern border from May 1975 to January 7, 1979, at the northern border from February 1979 to December 1988, and performed international duties in Laos from May 1975 to December 31, 1988, and in Cambodia from January 1979 to August 31, 1989. The areas where the tasks were carried out during the war to protect the Fatherland were border districts and districts adjacent to border districts that had the requirement to serve and ensure combat duties.
- For some special areas, the participation time of frontline laborers may be calculated earlier or later than the above time as prescribed by the Minister of National Defense.
