My hometown self-governing group

(Baonghean.vn) - During the New Year holidays, I decided to temporarily put aside all work to rest and relax. The nights in the semi-mountainous countryside were so quiet that I fell into a deep sleep, and my daily worries seemed to be washed away. In the morning, it was cold so I deliberately lingered and didn't want to wake up. Suddenly, the sound of laughter and chatter echoed throughout the village. Then there was the sound of pigs squealing. My mother urged me: "Get up! Today the self-governing groups are organizing a year-end party."

After breakfast, I immediately asked my mother about my concerns and questions about the year-end party of the self-governing groups. She explained that in the past few years, the self-governing group model has been strongly developed in the countryside. Each self-governing group usually has 10-15 households living nearby, among which a group leader and a deputy group leader are elected.

Thai ethnic people in Hoa Son commune (Anh Son) celebrate the New Year

The self-management groups hold regular meetings once a month. The functions and tasks of the self-management groups are to ensure security, order and environmental sanitation in residential areas. At the same time, they support each other in production and help each other in both happy and sad situations. More specifically, when there are conflicts or disagreements between members of a family or between families in the management group, the group leader is responsible for organizing a meeting to reconcile. Also at the meetings, the members of the self-management groups regularly remind each other to maintain environmental sanitation and keep the village roads and alleys clean. During the production season, the self-management groups also assign each other to help families with few people to ensure timely planting and harvesting.

The self-governing groups all set up funds to spend on encouraging and visiting each other when they are sick or ill. In particular, whenever there is a happy or sad event, the members of the group are present in time to help and share with the homeowner during the most confusing and busy times. In addition, some self-governing groups also set up wards to contribute capital to help each other expand production, increase income and eliminate hunger and reduce poverty.

I suddenly remembered nearly 2 months ago, the day my grandfather passed away. When he took his last breath, in addition to his children, grandchildren, and relatives, the neighbors were also present in time. While the extended family was extremely confused, the neighbors were always there to encourage, share, and then arrange work, cook and take care of the health of the members of the bereaved family. This action made our family very respectful and grateful, and at the same time, we felt secure in taking care of the funeral for my grandfather.
Thanks to the effective operation of the self-management model, the security and order situation in my hometown has always been ensured. The phenomenon of disturbing the order and theft has decreased significantly. In particular, the people of my hometown are always proud of not allowing the buying, selling, storing and using of drugs to occur. Whenever someone shows suspicious signs, the self-management group will immediately meet to promptly correct, even criticize, and help that person realize the unfortunate consequences that may occur.

With a peaceful life, people in my hometown have the conditions to concentrate on production, economic development, and building an increasingly prosperous homeland. Up to now, the poverty rate is only below 20%. Mr. Tran Dang Huong, Secretary of Party Cell 5, Tuong Son Commune shared: "The self-management groups operate in a disciplined and effective manner, helping the Party Committee and the Village Management Board to complete the direction and operation work well. And an equally important thing is that the village affection is always preserved and strengthened."

At the end of the year, the self-governing groups pooled money to organize a party. Some groups slaughtered a whole pig for the party. During the year-end meal, everyone talked together, reviewed the gains and losses of the old year, and shared plans for the new year. The meal took place in a happy, warm, and very friendly atmosphere. Throughout the afternoon and the next day, everyone went to the village cultural house to participate in cultural exchanges, football, and volleyball between groups. The sounds of singing and cheering echoed throughout the village.

This is the cultural feature of the village community that is still preserved in my hometown. And this traditional cultural feature is further strengthened and connected when the Party Committees and authorities at all levels implement the policy of building a model of self-governing groups. In other words, the self-governing groups in my hometown operate effectively because they know how to arouse and promote traditional cultural values, which are the spirit of community solidarity and the strong village affection.

Cong Kien