Current status of communal cultural post office - View from Cua Lo

(Baonghean)Established in the late 90s of the last century, the Ward-Commune Cultural Post Office (abbreviated as BĐVHX) is a grassroots cultural institution aimed at meeting the cultural enjoyment needs of the people, especially in remote areas. However, up to now, this cultural institution is facing many difficulties from the market mechanism, even facing the problem of existence or non-existence. A typical example is in Cua Lo, a locality that is on the path of urbanization with many impacts from the market mechanism.

In Cua Lo Town, 5/7 wards have social security points, most of which are barely surviving. Nghi Hai social security point had to borrow the premises of Song Lam Cooperative to build from 1998 to present. Ms. Nguyen Thi Huong, the staff in charge here, said that Nghi Hai social security point has been a model unit and a leader in the whole town since it started operating (1998) to 2002, but since the separation of postal services from telecommunications services (2004), this social security point has fallen into difficulty and misery, while Nghi Thu social security point has a quite favorable location, close to the administrative center and schools, but is still able to survive.

Ms. Hoang Thi Lien, the employee in charge, explained that in order to ensure the revenue quota, she was forced to borrow money to "expand" a grocery and stationery counter in front, investing nearly 20 million VND. Through direct investigation, it was found that the social security points here all have many things in common, such as an area of ​​over 20 square meters, close to the administrative center and residential area (except for Nghi Hoa social security points, which are more than 1 km away from the administrative area). In addition to postal services such as stamps, newspapers, SIM card sales, postal items, etc., the social security points all have additional counters for stationery and grocery services, etc. to ensure the revenue as mentioned above. There are also quite a variety of books and newspapers, such as Tien Phong, Hoa Hoc Tro, Nong thon ngay nay, Tuoi Tre, Nong Nghiep, etc. Regarding books, there are many books from publishing houses such as Education, Dan Tri, Nong nghiep, Phap luat, etc.

The biggest difficulty is ensuring the revenue quota to have a salary of 1.2 million VND/month; therefore, the BĐVHX employees here have to find ways to expand services such as stationery, have additional computer points, photocopy, sell souvenirs... but are always in a "sluggish" state, because around "everyone doing business" with the items that BĐVH has, how can they compete, including all kinds of SIM cards.

Discussing the current difficulties of the BĐVHX, Ms. Dao Thi Nguyet, Deputy Director of the Cua Lo Town Post Office, said: "The revenue allocation for the BĐVHX is based on the total level assigned by the Provincial Post Office, so we are forced to comply. Although we know it is difficult, all levels have the same difficulties." Regarding the reason why there are still 2 wards without BĐVHX points, Nghi Tan and Thu Thuy. Ms. Nguyet explained that there are 2 fairly large post offices in the area that "concurrently" perform the function of the BĐVHX, which is reasonable.

However, when talking with Mr. Hoang Minh Son - Chairman of Nghi Tan Ward People's Committee, he confided that the reason Nghi Tan still does not have a BĐVHX is because it has not found land yet, and now that land has been arranged, it has not been able to arrange capital for construction. Mr. Son said that the effect of the BĐVHX is very large, although there is a post office in Cua Lo Port in the area, it cannot replace all the BĐVHX, so despite the difficulties, the ward is still planning to build a BĐVHX when conditions are met.

While difficulties are piling up, 2/5 of the BĐVHX have temporarily stopped operating, the 3 remaining locations are somewhat shabby, similar to other street stalls, at risk of ceasing operations if business continues to be difficult and sluggish. It is known that the BĐVHX locations here have been given attention to concurrently perform a number of other services such as selling auto and motorbike insurance, recently adding pension payment services; allowing to open additional private business services... but the BĐVHX employees still find it difficult to survive, because according to them, the income is too low (the highest is only 1.2 million VND/month, often less than 1 million VND/month), and they are not given attention to paying social insurance like other workers in other industries, making it even more difficult to feel secure at work. This needs to be thoroughly addressed by managers.

Mai Ho Minh