The effectiveness of the model 'Veterans Club with the work of ensuring security and order'

Building safe communities

U Market is located right in the center of Dai Son commune. From the market, you can go up to the center of Do Luong district along Khuon - Tru - Dai road, you can go through Nghi Kieu (Nghi Loc) along Provincial Road 34 to Vinh city or you can turn through Yen Thanh to get to National Highway 7A. The location is favorable, the reputation is spread far and wide, traders from everywhere and even Chinese traders are increasingly coming here. Besides the advantages for economic development, this also has potential risks of causing insecurity, disorder and social safety in the area.

In previous years, pickpocketing and theft occurred at monthly markets, causing people to be extremely confused and worried. In addition, many people mixed in to solicit and raise prices with traders who came to the market for the first time, causing many people to worry.

“At that time, on average, 3-4 buffaloes and cows of all kinds were stolen every month. For us farmers, that was a huge asset, so people were very worried. Every night, everyone here was afraid to leave their homes,” said Mr. Nguyen Thuc Hung (residing in Hamlet 7, Dai Son Commune).

In mid-2019, realizing people's anxiety and confusion,Veterans AssociationThe commune has consulted and coordinated with the Commune Police to propose building a model of "Veterans Club with the work of ensuring security and order" in the area.

The core of the Club is the members of the Veterans Association of Dai Son commune. Photo: An Quynh.

Mr. Nguyen Canh Lam - Chairman of Dai Son Commune People's Committee shared: "Previously, with the characteristic of being a place to organize wholesale markets for buffalo and cow trading, attracting many people from other localities and even foreigners to buy and sell, leading to a very complicated security and order situation in the commune. However, since the establishment of the "Veterans with Security and Order" Club model, the situation has completely changed. That is most clearly demonstrated through recent markets".

Accordingly, each market session has the participation of the commune's veteran force to ensure security and order. The buffalo and cow owners are divided into booths for traders to observe. There are no more scenes of haggling, jostling or pickpocketing or theft during the market session. Notably, in the past 3 years, there have been no more thefts of buffalo, cows or personal property in the whole commune.

Having been involved in the markets for more than 10 years, “buffalo driver” Nguyen Van Dong (Thuan Son commune) said: “I have been involved in the markets for many years, but only recently have I seen a clear change in the markets. Everything is done in a much more orderly and disciplined manner.”

In addition to protection and patrolling, the Veterans Association of Dai Son commune also strengthens propaganda and mobilizes local people to strictly comply with the provisions of the law. Coordinates with the commune police force to organize 5 conferences to launch a movement for the whole people to vote to denounce crimes, associated with the police listening to people's opinions.

These conferences contributed to collecting more than 850 public opinions; including 45 valuable sources of information. Thereby, helping the authorities arrest 03 cases with 14 gambling subjects; mobilize the recovery of 7 electric shock devices; 8 homemade guns of various types.

For a drug-free village

In addition to the success in ensuring security and order at the market in particular and in the whole commune in general, Mr. Duong Xuan Thanh - Chairman of the Veterans Association of Dai Son commune could not hide his pride when the commune initially cleared drugs.

“Because of the nature of the market, drivers transporting and importing goods from other places will be forced to stay here for a few days. Social evils and drugs will also enter from there. There are even times when bold individuals invite and entice children in the area to participate. Fully aware of the role and responsibility of Uncle Ho's soldiers, we want to contribute to stabilizing the security and order situation and building a drug-free area,” Mr. Thanh shared.

At first, the "Veterans with security and order" Club was formed with 5 comrades in the Executive Committee and 72 members divided equally into 8 groups corresponding to the area of ​​8 hamlets. At the beginning of the model's operation, the members of the group regularly patrolled to grasp the current situation of drug addicts in the commune. From there, assigning cadres and members to be in charge of each self-management group as well as monitoring, helping and encouraging drug addicts under management in the area and families with drug addicts to send them to rehabilitation and soon reintegrate into the community.

In 2021 alone, the Commune Veterans Association coordinated with the authorities to deter 25 subjects, establish 4 educational records in the commune and successfully sent 8 subjects to drug rehabilitation in the area. From 2022 to present, thanks to the information provided by members of the "Veterans with security and order assurance work" Club, Dai Son Commune Police arrested 2 cases, 4 subjects for illegal possession and use of drugs; successfully sent 4 subjects to drug rehabilitation... thereby promptly preventing all types of crimes in the area, not allowing the formation of security and order hotspots.

The flag street was completed in 2020, located in Dai Son commune. Photo: An Quynh

With the motto of “prevention is the main thing”, the members of the Club regularly visit and strengthen propaganda work to make people aware of the harmful effects of drugs; how to detect drugs and drug addicts, thereby raising vigilance. At the same time, establish and maintain safe residential areas, each family becomes a safe area for drug abuse. Whenever a stranger with suspicious signs is discovered in the area, people voluntarily report to the Club's teams.

As the head of the Club model, Mr. Duong Xuan Thanh believes that only when the commune is stable, safe, and free of social evils will people have confidence in the government and from there feel secure in working and producing to contribute to building their homeland. It is this spirit and responsibility that is cultivated every day that has created consensus and contribution among the people. In the process of building new rural areas, Dai Son commune has mobilized people to contribute to building concrete roads, extending more than 12km. Mobilizing children living far from home to contribute 3 billion VND to build public works; repairing the memorial with nearly 100 million VND; building 3 km of flag roads...

The successful implementation of the Veterans Club model with the work of ensuring security and order has contributed to creating people's trust in the Party Committee and the government, joining hands to bring the commune to the new rural finish line. And now Dai Son commune is being proposed as a pilot commune to reach the advanced new rural finish line in 2024./.