Dan Lai people happily welcome the first Spring in the new village

"Taking root" in the new homeland

Nearly 5 months after the historic "migration" from their birthplace, Co Phat village and Bung village in Khe Khang (Mon Son commune) to the Ba Ha - Ke Tat resettlement area (Thach Ngan commune), the lives of 22 Dan Lai households have begun to stabilize. Thanks to the attention of local authorities and authorities, according to the metaphor of the Dan Lai people, they are now like trees that have begun to "take root and sprout" in their new home.

Dan Lai people in Ba Ha - Ke Tat resettlement area prepare to welcome the first Spring in their new home. Photo: QA

Visiting the family of Mr. La Van Diep (born in 1982) and his wife, Ms. La Thi A (born in 1985), before our eyes was a small, pretty garden with lots of green vegetables, a bamboo fence, a newly dug fish pond, and colorful flower bushes. While cleaning the house to prepare for the New Year, Mr. Diep and his wife excitedly said: Since moving to their new home, the Dan Lai people have been "held by the hand" and instructed on how to grow corn, acacia, green vegetables, raise livestock, poultry, dig ponds to raise fish... life is still difficult but considered stable. Everyone is eagerly looking forward to the first traditional New Year here.

Dan Lai people in the new resettlement area have learned to grow vegetables, dig ponds to raise fish, grow corn... Photo: KL

La Thi Hoat, who is over 70 years old this year, happily expressed: “Coming here, there is electricity, roads, schools, and stations. The children and grandchildren’s education is convenient. When sick, it is easier to go to the doctor, so old people like me are very excited. During the acacia harvest season, there are many couples who just go to work to peel acacia trees for hire, earning 200,000 VND/person/day. People bring food to sell right here, so we don’t have to go far anymore.

The happiest thing is that the Dan Lai people know how to grow vegetables and corn. Before, they only knew how to go down to the stream to catch fish and go into the forest to find bamboo shoots to survive. This year, celebrating Tet in the new village will definitely be happier and more cozy. During the recent National Unity Festival, the Dan Lai people and the Thai people had a lot of fun exchanging cultural performances."

In Ba Ha - Ke Tat resettlement area, electricity, roads, schools and stations are fully guaranteed. Photo: KL

Leading us around the resettlement area, with rows of stilt houses connected in a straight line amidst the poetic mountain and forest scenery, and green corn fields ready for harvest, the Head of Ba Ha Resettlement Area, Mr. Vi Van Hieu said: “The Dan Lai people who came here have joined the community quite quickly, diligently cultivating and raising livestock, and uniting and getting along with the local people, building a new life together…”.

Leaders of Thach Ngan commune and Ba Ha village visited people to inquire about their preparations for Tet and Spring. Photo: KL

Accompanying and helping people settle down

To help people stabilize their lives soon, as soon as 22 Dan Lai households were welcomed to the Ba Ha - Ke Tat resettlement area at the end of October 2019, Con Cuong district directed the Party Committee and the government of Thach Ngan commune to focus on training, transferring farming and livestock techniques, vocational training, and production support so that people could quickly adapt to their new lives.

A corner of Dan Lai resettlement area in Ba Ha - Ke Tat. Photo: KL

Mr. Vo Dinh Thanh - Secretary of the Party Committee of Thach Ngan commune said: The Party Committee has directed the establishment of working groups, assigned union cadres to stay close to the area, and assigned party members to help Dan Lai households stabilize their lives. In particular, the production steering group led by the Vice Chairman of the Commune People's Committee directly guided people to grow 6.5 hectares of corn, provided technical training, and distributed seeds to people to grow vegetables and fruit trees in the garden. Some active households were also guided to dig ponds to raise fish, and take advantage of hillsides to grow trees to increase their livelihoods, such as the household of Mr. La Van Bay - the only Dan Lai party member in the resettlement area.

Agricultural staff of Thach Ngan commune instruct Dan Lai people on high-yield corn growing techniques. Photo: KL

During the first year in the new residence, Dan Lai households will be supported with electricity, water, food, funds to buy labor tools, etc. In addition, the people will be allocated 10 hectares of production land, 100 hectares of forest land and also granted certificates related to forest land, agricultural production land and agricultural land. Land allocation to each household will be carried out when the mobilization of 5 Dan Lai households who are still in Khe Khang area to the resettlement area is completed.

Ensuring security and order for people to enjoy Spring and celebrate Tet at their new home is also a concern of local authorities and functional agencies. Photo: KL

Along with production support, the Party Committee and the government always pay attention to the spiritual life of the people through many cultural and artistic exchange activities, physical training and sports on October 20, the National Great Unity Day... "When Tet comes, Spring comes, in addition to gifts from the district, agencies, units, and philanthropists, the Party Committee and the government of Thach Ngan commune have proactively built a plan to celebrate Spring so that the people of Dan Lai do not feel lonely in their new hometown, but will welcome a warm Tet in the solidarity, love, and care of the community", Party Secretary Vo Dinh Thanh shared.

Dan Lai children go to school happily. Photo: KL

A new Spring, a new milestone with many happy signals is coming to the Ba Ha - Ke Tat Resettlement Area, opening up for the people of Dan Lai a path towards a more prosperous and happier life...