"Gifts from the Party Committee"

Although the gift from the Party Committee is not large in material terms, it is a source of encouragement for the people, showing the affection, responsibility and sharing of each cadre and Party member towards the community.

Joy in the Catholic neighborhood

In March 2018, the Cultural House of Hamlet 4, Nghi Dong Commune, Nghi Loc District was renovated to meet the community living needs of the people, while contributing to the implementation of the criteria for building new rural areas of the commune.

Hamlet 4 has 228 households, of which 207 are Catholics. Thoroughly understanding the spirit: Building a new countryside is for the people to enjoy, the Party cell and hamlet executive committee discussed and mobilized the people and children living far from home to support the renovation of the cultural house and campus.

The cultural house of hamlet 4, Nghi Dong commune, Nghi Loc district has been renovated and upgraded to be spacious. Photo: Thanh Duy

During the implementation process, what made the people feel more heartwarming was the support of many agencies, departments and branches of the district and commune. The old, 2-room house was renovated to a spacious yard, solid surrounding walls, and 2 concrete volleyball courts.

Introducing to us, the Party Secretary of Hamlet 4, Mrs. Pham Thi Hieu and Hamlet Chief Vuong Van Hung could not hide their joy, saying: In addition to the contribution of the people, the people are very grateful for the attention and contribution of the District Military Command and other groups and individuals so that the hamlet's premises can be as spacious as it is today.

Nghi Dong is a purely agricultural commune, as the N5 road connects National Highway 1A to Hoa Son (Do Luong). After many years of efforts to build a new countryside, the commune was recognized as reaching the finish line at the end of last year.

The support and assistance of the district's Party Committees, departments and branches contributed to helping Nghi Dong commune reach the new rural finish line by the end of 2018. Photo: Thanh Duy

Standing Deputy Secretary of Nghi Dong Commune Party Committee Le Cong Hong took me on a tour around the commune, excitedly telling me about the commune's journey of overcoming difficulties and rising up.

Besides internal strength and promoting democracy for people to join hands in implementation, it is valuable that the commune always receives attention and support from all levels and sectors.

Especially the gifts from the Party Committee to build and renovate the village and hamlet cultural houses; especially the help in the three Catholic hamlets of the commune, hamlets 3, 4, and 5, from cadres, party members, and soldiers of the District Military Command, Nghi Loc District Police, and many other social organizations and unions from personal savings.

From those friendly actions and gestures, the solidarity and attachment between Catholics and non-Catholics, between Party committees and authorities at all levels and the people are increasingly strengthened.

Small personal savings, great community joy

Talking with the staff of the Propaganda Department of Nghi Loc District Party Committee, we learned that not only the villages and hamlets in Nghi Dong but also many other communes in the district received help from the above method.

This meaningful activity started in 2007. Nghi Loc has launched a campaign for each cadre, party member, civil servant, and public employee to save money to help disadvantaged groups and individuals.

The amount each person contributes is only about 50,000 VND/month, but together it becomes a considerable amount to do very meaningful work.

The cultural house of hamlet 4, Nghi Dong commune, Nghi Loc district is fully equipped. Photo: Thanh Duy

By 2016, realizing that the district, especially in many hamlets in special areas, still had difficulties in cultural institutions, many agencies such as the Party Committee of the People's Bloc, the Women's Union... switched to supporting cultural institutions such as: Uncle Ho's statue, speakers, backdrops...

Seeing the significance of this approach, in 2018, the Standing Committee of the District Party Committee assigned the Propaganda Department to coordinate with relevant departments and agencies to review the situation of cultural institutions at cultural houses in villages, hamlets, and blocks in communes and towns.

In addition to fulfilling the assigned duties and tasks, for each cadre, party member, civil servant, and public employee, reaching out to the people sometimes does not require "big things" but the important thing is understanding, sharing from thoughts to actions, and specific work to reduce difficulties, multiply joy, and solidarity in the community and the political system. That is also the profound meaning of the "gifts from the Party Committee" in Nghi Loc district.

On that basis, the Standing Committee of Nghi Loc District Party Committee issued a plan to direct party committees and party cells under the agency block to mobilize cadres, party members, civil servants and public employees to save personal expenses to help build and equip cultural institutions in 47 hamlets facing many difficulties in the district.

Officials and party members responded enthusiastically to the movement. From small contributions from many people, a significant source of funding was multiplied.

Officials of Nghi Dong commune, Nghi Loc district talk with leaders of hamlet 4. Photo: Thanh Duy

By the end of November 2018, nearly 40 hamlets had received support with a total budget of more than 350 million VND to upgrade and equip cultural institutions. Typical units in implementation are: District Party Committee, District Government Party Committee, People's Bloc Party Committee, District Military Command Party Committee, District Police Party Committee, General Hospital Party Committee, etc.

Nguyen Canh Thi, Deputy Head of the Propaganda Department of Nghi Loc District Party Committee, said that the district is aiming to complete support for the remaining 7 disadvantaged hamlets with cultural institutions by the second quarter of 2019.