Model new countryside must have model citizens.

(Baonghean) - Kim Lien (Nam Dan) is one of three communes in Nghe An selected to build a model new rural commune by 2020. The commune Party Committee identified one of the existing problems and difficulties affecting the current development acceleration as ideological inertia.

On this issue, Nghe An Newspaper had a dialogue with Mr. Hoang Dinh Tien - Secretary of Kim Lien Commune Party Committee.

Panorama of Kim Lien commune (Nam Dan). Photo: SM

PV:After achieving the national NTM standard in 2014, Kim Lien was selected by the Provincial People's Committee to build a model NTM commune in 2020. However, there are times when it seems that the speed of new rural construction is "slowing down". Do you think that Kim Lien has not yet escaped ideological inertia, and this is an obstacle that makes it difficult to accelerate and make breakthroughs to create strong growth?

Mr. Hoang Dinh Tien:It is true that there are still some cadres, party members, and people in Kim Lien who show signs of ideological inertia. Specifically, these are manifestations of a reluctance to change with new ways of doing business, not adapting quickly to the market mechanism, not fully exploiting potential and resources...

There are opinions that Kim Lien still shows signs of waiting and relying on others, I think that is also a frank and responsible opinion. It is not pleasant to hear such comments, but we must also frankly look at the truth, we must see that the inertia in thinking is a huge obstacle that needs to be pushed back and eliminated.

PV:Can you give some specific examples to illustrate this resistance?

Mr. Hoang Dinh Tien:This is a rather sensitive issue, but it is not difficult to point out. For example, in Kim Lien commune, although everyone knows that planting "1 sao of flowers is equal to 3 sao of rice", the commune has also surveyed and planned to convert 3.7 hectares of ineffective rice growing area to grow flowers. However, through the process of mobilization and propaganda, so far only 1 hectare of flower growing has been converted. This shows that people are afraid of difficulties and changes. The direction is also not strong enough.

Another example is that in Kim Lien, the main traffic system has basically been concreted and hardened, with only a few small and secondary routes remaining... However, although there are only a few more routes to be completed, the entire commune only has 4 hamlets (Sen 3, Mau 6, Hoi 2, Hoi 3) that have completed upgrading and completing 100% of the roads. Nearly 20 remaining hamlets still show signs of waiting for cement support from superiors and outside. The rate of main intra-field roads that have been hardened and are convenient for motor vehicles to travel has only reached 74.9%.

In the picture of a new, spacious and modern countryside, there are still some images that are not beautiful and not uniform. There are still some restaurants and residential areas that do not ensure waste treatment and wastewater collection and treatment according to regulations. Cleaning of village roads and alleys on some routes is not done regularly. The rate of poor households is still 3.7%. The rate of cultural houses at the village level that meet the standards is only 5/25 (20%)...

PV:Building a model new rural area certainly requires model citizens. Can you tell us how the Kim Lien Commune Party Committee is concerned about this issue?

Mr. Hoang Dinh Tien:The commune is focusing on implementing the project on building Kim Lien people into model citizens. Aiming to change Kim Lien people to "please visitors and satisfy visitors", worthy of being citizens living in the birthplace of the great President Ho Chi Minh. Focusing on building model residential areas to create hamlets Sen 3, Hong 1, Hong 2, Mau 1, Mau 2, Mau 3, Mau 4, Mau 5, Mau 6, and Hoang Tru 1.

If we want to build a model new countryside, people must also be exemplary. Exemplary in their steps, words, cultural behavior, creating a friendly environment, ensuring security and order, and factors related to landscape and environment.

Kim Lien has a special pride, being the hometown of beloved President Ho Chi Minh, the name Kim Lien as well as this place name have become familiar, known throughout the country and internationally. However, if not alert, it is easy to fall into a state of "sleeping on pride". Therefore, cadres, party members and people of Kim Lien need to be proactive, dynamic, rely mainly on their own strength, dare to think, dare to do, have a fierce spirit of emulation to get rich legitimately.

PV:The important thing in building new rural areas is to improve the quality of life of the people. Having modern infrastructure but unstable average income is still not sustainable. So what solutions have the Party Committee and the government of Kim Lien commune implemented to ensure sustainable new rural construction?

Mr. Hoang Dinh Tien:Despite constant efforts, Kim Lien has not yet developed commensurate with its potential, advantages, and the attention of Party committees, authorities, people, and tourists from all over the world. Five out of 19 criteria have not yet been completed. In particular, in 2016, the average income reached 35.1 million VND/person/year, while the target for 2020 is 60 - 70 million VND/person/year.

Therefore, to achieve the set goals, Kim Lien identified three major solutions to create breakthroughs: One is to promote tourism development; two is to attract investment resources to promote potential; three is to carry out production restructuring.

As a commune with outstanding advantages in tourism, to exploit the potential, the commune focuses on shifting the crop structure, converting the ineffective rice growing areas to fruit trees to serve tourists; planning some areas of land to call for businesses to produce handicraft products; re-planning some areas so that people have conditions to trade in Kim Lien's special products. Currently, Lang Sen sticky rice wine products have been built and vegetarian food has been developed.

Through the construction of new rural areas, many rural roads have been upgraded and expanded (the expanded road in Kim Lien commune). Photo: PV

Regarding attracting resources, the commune continues to call for and promote investment. In particular, the biggest expectation is to invest in building a bus station associated with a commercial and shopping center. Forming routes for specialized regional tourist vehicles (such as electric cars) to transport visitors to visit Uncle Ho's hometown, Kim Lien village, economic models, specialty gardens, etc.

Currently, the whole commune has 397 small traders and handicraft households, accounting for about 12%. The commune will call for the creation of joint venture models to create value chains, increasing production and business value.

The commune is currently focusing on directing the conversion of inefficient highland rice growing areas to farm economic development. Up to now, Nam Dan has 27 small and medium-sized farms, many of which have an average revenue of over 1 billion VND/year. Implementing the conversion of crops in 2 areas of Dam Sim and Lien Son 1 by collaborating with the Central Institute of Crops to survey soil quality and find high-value crop varieties. Renovating mixed gardens in 6 hamlets, leaving only traditional crops such as hawthorn, canarium, orange, apple, guava, etc.

For a long time, the low canal system into Kim Lien has not had water for irrigation in the summer-autumn crop, causing drought and lack of water for production. Because it is located in a low-lying area, only 200 mm of rain causes a large area to be flooded. Of this area, only 66 hectares can be converted to grow vegetables. Therefore, the commune will focus on attracting investment in building an irrigation system to ensure stable irrigation.

The above solutions are not only promoted to increase people's income, but also contribute to creating breakthroughs in awareness and ideology, eliminating inertia in both awareness and action.

PV:Thank you!

Ngo Kien

(Perform)