Nam Trung (Nam Dan) achieves New Rural Area status.

(Baonghean) - Located along the banks of the Lam River, Nam Trung commune (Nam Dan district) frequently suffers from natural disasters such as floods. Starting with only 9 criteria for building new rural areas, however, with the decisive involvement of the entire political system and the efforts of all sectors of the population, Nam Trung is one of the four communes in Nam Dan district that achieved the new rural area status in 2014.

When Nam Trung commune was selected by Nam Dan district as a pilot area for implementing the national target program on building new rural areas, the Party Committee of Nam Trung commune issued specialized Resolution 06/NQ-DU. Based on this, the People's Committee of the commune developed a plan, reviewed the current situation, and prepared a project proposal for submission to competent authorities for approval and implementation.

Besides proactive propaganda efforts, the commune implemented policies and resolutions down to the grassroots level, down to the Party branches and hamlets. Simultaneously, Party committee members were assigned to oversee each hamlet, closely monitoring and implementing projects, and gathering information through meetings. Commitments were signed to compete in accordance with the specific characteristics of each hamlet, such as environmental sanitation, avoiding having a third child, and restructuring crop production. Based on this, the people were mobilized to donate land for road construction, remove fences to expand transportation routes, and convert small plots of land into larger ones for concentrated production. The Party committee and the people united wholeheartedly, enthusiastically competing in the new rural development movement, proactively leveraging internal resources, and effectively utilizing the support of businesses and contributions from those who had moved away from the commune.

A lesson at Nam Trung Kindergarten (Nam Dan).

Due to the low-lying terrain, infrastructure projects, especially roads, are frequently flooded and therefore deteriorate rapidly. Therefore, Nam Trung has prioritized investment in rural transportation infrastructure and public welfare facilities to improve people's lives. Nam Trung has effectively utilized state funding and mobilized contributions from the people. The rural road construction movement has been enthusiastically supported by the people, creating a widespread ripple effect. The people contributed tens of thousands of man-days and hundreds of millions of dong to invest in the construction of three multi-story schools totaling 29.7 billion dong; 23.5 km of commune and village roads, 2.7 km of drainage ditches, and 3 km of field roads totaling 35 billion dong; an office building worth over 6 billion dong; three power stations; and the construction of village cultural houses, playgrounds, and sports fields worth 4 billion dong. The project involved renovating and rebuilding houses for the people, costing 31.645 billion VND. During this process, the people of the entire commune donated 5.8 hectares of land, valued at 1.8 billion VND, and contributed tens of thousands of man-days of labor.

Along with the dramatic changes in the rural landscape, Nam Trung commune has developed a production development plan, transforming the crop structure to suit the seasons and soil conditions. The commune has implemented the transformation of crop and livestock structures to achieve high productivity and economic efficiency in the Cung Muoi and Hong Son areas, building potato cultivation models in hamlets 2 and 9, winter potato cultivation, and N26 peanut cultivation with yields exceeding 44 quintals/hectare. In coordination with the district's agricultural extension service, training on production processes has been organized for the people; commitments have been signed between hamlets with high-income production models, gradually replicating effective economic models... To date, the entire commune has completed the "land consolidation, exchange, and land conversion" work according to Directive 08 of the Provincial Party Committee, creating favorable conditions for projects such as "Developing production to increase people's income." Currently, the entire commune has 14 integrated livestock and crop farming models. Thanks to the mechanization of farming, the entire commune now has 38 tillage machines, 720 hand-held harvesters, and 19 rice threshing machines...

Nam Trung commune has also promoted the development of industries, services, and trade. The commune has 21 rice milling and animal feed processing machines, 206 small-scale trading households, 2 construction enterprises, 24 construction and carpentry teams, 17 transport vehicles, and 2 passenger transport vehicles. Thanks to the implementation of the "Labor Export and Job Creation" project, more than 250 people are currently working abroad, bringing in substantial income annually. The economic restructuring is moving in the right direction, and the application of science and technology in production, livestock farming, and other industries has led to a continuous increase in average per capita income, estimated at 24 million VND/person in 2014; the poverty rate has decreased from 8% in 2010 to 4.7% today; and the percentage of well-off and wealthy households is steadily increasing.

Building rural roads in Nam Trung.

With improved economic conditions, Nam Trung's socio-cultural sector has undergone significant changes; currently, 100% of households have audio-visual equipment; village roads are illuminated with electricity; all 14 hamlets have spacious cultural centers; 11 out of 14 hamlets maintain and promote the title of "Cultural Hamlet"; the annual rate of "Cultural Families" reaches 85%... The quality of teaching and learning is constantly improving; all 14 hamlets have scholarship funds, and many clans also have scholarship funds. The commune also achieved national standards for healthcare in the 2012-2020 period. Nam Trung pays special attention to environmental sanitation, preventing environmental pollution; to date, 98% of households have access to clean and hygienic water... Upholding the traditions of its revolutionary homeland, Nam Trung has built a strong and comprehensive political system. The Party Committee, with 335 members, has consistently been recognized as a strong and exemplary Party Committee. In 2013, the Party Committee of the TSVM (Supreme Party Committee of the TSVM) was awarded the title of Outstanding Party Committee; the Fatherland Front and its member organizations were consistently recognized as excellent. For many consecutive years, it was awarded the flag for being the leading unit in various emulation movements.

Experience from the practical implementation of the New Rural Development program in Nam Trung shows that the process requires close leadership and guidance from the Party Committee, flexible and decisive management from the government, and close and synchronized coordination among departments, agencies, and socio-political organizations. Effective propaganda and mobilization, along with the implementation of grassroots democracy, create consensus among cadres, Party members, and the people. In particular, it is crucial to promote the leading role of the people in directly participating in all stages of the New Rural Development process. Completing all 19 criteria and being recognized as a standard New Rural Development commune today does not mean that Nam Trung has completed the New Rural Development program. Rather, it serves as a foundation and motivation for the Party Committee, government, and people of Nam Trung to strive in labor and production, building a stronger and more prosperous homeland, worthy of the birthplace of Comrade Nguyen Tiem – the first Secretary of the Nghe An Provincial Party Committee.

Le Trong Luong(Chairman of the People's Committee of Nam Trung Commune)