Final: Solving problems in a sustainable way

There are still gaps in the 'whitewashing' work.

Part 2: Finding effective solutions for mountainous areas

There are still gaps in the 'whitewashing' work.

Part 2: Finding effective solutions for mountainous areas

The passion of a hamlet secretary

Son Hai is a coastal commune in Quynh Luu, Nghe An. In recent years, the commune's economy has gradually developed sustainably, especially in the fishing industry with many large offshore fishing boats. However, Party work and the expansion of Party cadres and members are "standing still", and many Party cells are even at risk of being wiped out.

A Party cell meeting in Son Hai commune (Quynh Luu). Photo: PV

The Party cell of hamlet 2 has 7 party members, of which only 3 are "on-the-spot": Secretary Cao Xuan Thuong, 64 years old this year, 1 female comrade and a fisherman on an ocean-going ship, the remaining 4 are additional party members.

Uncle Thuong frankly said: “In reality, in my hometown, the work of developing the Party faces many difficulties. The young generation is not enthusiastic, and even those of our generation, who used to strive to join the Party as a great honor, have somewhat lost their enthusiasm. Sometimes I also worry a lot, but cannot find motivation and urging from superiors. However, since Project 01 was launched, the Party movement at the grassroots level has really begun to revive.”

Having participated as the chairman of Hai Phu Cooperative with more than 30 party members and as the village party cell secretary for many years, Mr. Thuong has a very good understanding of the situation as well as the characteristics of the population in this coastal area: Currently, the Party and Youth Union work here is only superficial, there is no depth, and the party cells are not operating effectively.

In hamlet 2, there are 68 members of the farmers' association, 137 members of the women's association, and the largest number is the members of the fisheries association. However, there are only 11 members of the youth union, mainly students in the school. Why do unions, professional associations, and economic associations attract many participants, while the Youth Union organization has few? Many young people have not yet determined their motivation and goal to join the Party? - Uncle Thuong asked.

From that, the Secretary of Hamlet 2 believes that it is necessary to innovate the way the Party Cell operates and target new, large groups in society. It is necessary to promote the role of the Youth Union right in the associations, especially the fishing association. The target of mobilization and propaganda is the association presidents and captains, chief engineers... those are young pioneers with economic and prestige in the commune. When these people have a voice of support and join the Union, it will attract many others. At the same time, it is necessary to launch cultural, sports and collective exchange movements. From there, discover and nurture elite masses.

“At the same time, the locality needs to have plans and schemes to develop occupations associated with the economic advantages of the commune such as seafood processing, fish sauce, net weaving, etc. In order to create sustainable jobs for people in their hometown, without having to go far away to work, it will keep the young population from migrating,” said Mr. Thuong.

Son Hai commune currently has 3/16 party cells at risk of having no party members, including hamlets 1, 2, 9. Comrade Cao Xuan Diep - Secretary of the Party Committee of Son Hai commune said: These hamlets all have reinforced party cells, but their activities are not really effective, originating from the reinforced party members are not local people in the hamlet, do not have a deep understanding of the geographical characteristics, history, population and thinking of the people. Therefore, the efforts and direction of creating resources for the Party as Mr. Cao Xuan Thuong said is a good way, opening up many prospects.

Comrade Diep also shared: “We are facing the situation of a number of empty Party cells, with no Party members, but that does not mean that because there are few, we can admit them arbitrarily. There are people who have not clearly shown their need to strive, so they cannot be admitted. But there are also people who have the capacity, responsibility, and desire to join the Party, but are not qualified because they violate the population/family planning policy. In the coming time, in my opinion, for special regions, there should be an open mechanism for those who violate the population/family planning policy. If after 5 years they do not violate, they will be considered for admission.”

Insider story

Ms. Le Thi Luong is one of three Thai ethnic party members in the mountainous district of Anh Son who were newly admitted in 2017. Sharing about her efforts, Ms. Luong said: It was really a long process for me. It took 10 years of effort to participate in union activities, not only in the school, but also in the village, for me to have the honor of standing in the ranks of the Party. I am currently the Secretary of the Youth Union of Duc Son Kindergarten, Anh Son.

“One of the measures to develop the district’s party members is to focus on creating a source of training from young people who have graduated from universities and colleges in the villages. Create conditions and encourage them to feel secure in starting a business in their hometown, determine the right motivation to join the Party, and methods to strive to become party members,” said comrade Nguyen Van Son - Standing Deputy Secretary of Anh Son District Party Committee. Currently, in the whole Anh Son district, there are 388 party cells under the grassroots party committee, of which 252/252 villages, hamlets, and blocks have party cells.

In Quynh Thanh commune, Quynh Luu district, Ho Phu (born in 1990) is the youngest Catholic party member. Born into a family with a priest brother, Phu graduated from university with a degree in Natural Resources and Environment, and is currently a land officer who also works in agricultural extension for the commune. “In the process of working, there are many social and community interests that conflict with the interests of the parish. At those times, I myself am under great pressure. But I always maintain the view that I live and work according to the constitution and the law,” Ho Phu shared.

In fact, when Phu wished to join the Party, his family was very concerned. However, Phu determined that he strived to join the Party to have the opportunity to participate in many activities that would help political stability and local socio-economic development. As for religious beliefs, he is still a Catholic. Comrade Ho Van Guong - Standing Deputy Secretary of the Quynh Thanh Commune Party Committee expressed: Comrade Phu is a capable, dedicated person who has a voice with the people. With other cadres speaking, people may not necessarily listen, but when Comrade Phu stands up to propagate and explain, people listen and follow more.

“In the general context of the difficulties in developing Party members, having a person like Comrade Phu in the Party ranks is very valuable. However, Phu is currently only a contract cadre, with a meager salary, while the amount of work to be done is very large and stressful. The Party Committee and the government of Quynh Thanh commune hope that superiors will consider and pay attention to Phu to join the civil service payroll, so that he can work with more peace of mind,” said Comrade Guong.

Building a movement to develop human resources

Comrade Le Thanh Nhan - Secretary of Quynh Luu District Party Committee shared: "In the coming time, the district will have many drastic measures in building political core; supporting funding for wireless broadcasting equipment to propagate, mobilize, and build movements, thereby discovering and nurturing outstanding masses to create a source of party admissions.

However, the locality also hopes that the Provincial Party Committee will have mechanisms and policies to support commune officials and civil servants to become Party Cell Secretaries in villages and hamlets in special areas.

According to comrade Ho Dang Tai - Deputy Head of the Provincial Party Committee's Organization Board, the goal of Project 01 is to focus on improving the quality of Party cell activities, associated with the training and development of new Party members, but this is a long-term roadmap, so the most urgent task at hand is to consolidate the political system and unite the religious and non-religious. In which, we must start by discovering the elite masses, then leading and training them to become Party members at the grassroots level.

Comrade Ho Phuc Hop - Member of the Standing Committee, Head of the Provincial Party Committee's Propaganda Department said: From a practical perspective, although Project 01 is practical and has created an initial push for the elimination of Party cells and Party members. However, the implementation process still faces many difficulties to create real and sustainable changes. Obviously, to develop Party members, we must first have factors. But to have factors, we must have a movement and maintain the movement. Through that, we can discover typical factors, multiply good people and good deeds. From there, we can train, mobilize, and persuade them to sympathize with the Party and have the will to strive to join the Party.

As of September 30, 2017, the whole province of Nghe An has 90 hamlets with no local party members; 98 hamlets with local party members but not yet qualified to establish a party cell; 154 hamlets established party cells by increasing party members from other places, an increase of 20 hamlets compared to 2016; 9 hamlets with combined activities, a decrease of 2 hamlets compared to 2016; 25 hamlets currently do not have a party cell, a decrease of 4 hamlets compared to 2016. Notably, the whole province currently has 134 party cells at risk of "returning to white". The result after nearly 1 year of implementing Project 01 is that 43 people in the blocks, hamlets and villages within the scope of the Project have participated in the party sympathy class, of which 17 outstanding people have been admitted; 13 people are completing their records; 13 people are being monitored and trained.