Create high consensus on implementing cultural lifestyle in weddings

(Baonghean) - Implementing a cultural lifestyle in weddings is to build and develop Vietnamese culture and people to meet the requirements of sustainable national development; contributing to building a cultural environment from family, community, society, closely linked with economic development, improving the material and spiritual life of the people.

In recent years, along with the whole country, Nghe An is gradually realizing the policies of the Party and State on culture in life. Implementing a cultural lifestyle in weddings is one of the contents that Party committees and authorities at all levels regularly pay attention to. After 12 years of implementing Directive 19-CT/TU dated February 18, 2004 of the Provincial Party Standing Committee "on implementing a cultural lifestyle in weddings for cadres, party members, civil servants and public employees", remarkable results have been achieved:

The Party Committee, the government, the Fatherland Front and socio-political organizations have proactively issued plans to thoroughly implement Directive 19-CT/TU in conjunction with the implementation of Decision 52/2004/QD-UB dated May 24, 2004 of the Provincial People's Committee "on regulations on organizing weddings according to cultural lifestyle in Nghe An province"; focusing on supplementing and perfecting regulations, statutes, village covenants and conventions on implementing cultural lifestyle in weddings at agencies, units and residential communities.

The work of propagating and coordinating the implementation of cultural lifestyle in weddings between levels and sectors is carried out quite closely and effectively with many rich and diverse forms.

The role and responsibility of setting an example of the leader is clearly defined through the organization and direction of the implementation of the specific content of Directive 19-CT/TU at the agency and unit; exemplary implementation of regulations on marriage for oneself and family. At the same time, effectively carry out propaganda and mobilize people to effectively implement the policies of the Party and State.

Many creative models and methods have been effectively deployed and maintained in units and localities, typically the models: "Economical wedding" in Quy Hop and Anh Son districts, the Provincial Border Guard; "Wedding according to the new lifestyle" in Nghia Dan, Quynh Luu, Tan Ky districts and Vinh city; "Sweet party combined with post-wedding announcement" in Nghi Loc and Yen Thanh districts; "Happy, civilized, economical" wedding model of the Youth Union...

In the 12 years of implementing Directive 19-CT/TU, over 52,725 weddings following the new lifestyle have been held. In many localities (Dien Chau, Yen Thanh, Quynh Luu, Tan Ky, Nghi Loc...), weddings following the cultural lifestyle have become a movement and have been well maintained for many years.

New lifestyle wedding organization model in Tan Ky district. Photo: Tran Thi Mai

For cadres, party members, workers and civil servants, there has been a strong change in awareness and action in implementing weddings. In the first years of implementing Directive 19-CT/TU, many model weddings following a cultural lifestyle were organized by cadres, party members and youth union members, creating a positive effect, spreading to people about implementing a cultural lifestyle in weddings.

The results after 12 years of implementing Directive 19-CT/TU have confirmed that: most cadres, party members, civil servants and public employees comply with the regulations on weddings, ensuring that they are consistent with the good customs and practices of the locality; reporting well to the agency, party cell, and locality of residence on the organization method; not taking advantage of weddings to receive gifts; wedding ceremonies are organized simply and concisely; the time and space for organization are shortened; some backward customs (challenging dowry, forced marriage, wife kidnapping) are abolished; wedding costumes are increasingly concerned, aiming at cultural values, suitable for the customs and practices of the region and each ethnic group.

However, the implementation of a civilized lifestyle in weddings still has many limitations: Some localities have not promptly added regulations on implementing a civilized lifestyle in weddings to the regulations of agencies, units and village conventions and conventions in residential areas; the work of inspection, supervision, urging and reminding is still lax; the annual assessment and classification of civil servants, party members, cultural residential areas and cultural families have not been combined and integrated with the implementation of a civilized lifestyle in weddings.

In particular, in recent years, the leadership and direction of the implementation of weddings by Party committees and authorities at all levels has been irregular, so the movement of organizing weddings according to cultural lifestyles has stagnated; wedding models according to cultural lifestyles have not been maintained and widely replicated. In urban areas, the organization of weddings of some cadres and Party members tends to be more and more ostentatious and formal, with some even organizing "wedding announcement parties", causing public outrage; the situation of scattering coins on the street when picking up the bride still occurs, violating order and traffic safety has become quite common.

The main reasons for the limitations are: Coordination between all levels, sectors and the whole society in disseminating the implementation of cultural lifestyle in weddings has not been implemented synchronously and drastically; the replication, encouragement and motivation of good models and experiences have not been carried out regularly; the awareness of a number of cadres and party members is still limited in organizing weddings for themselves and their relatives; the handling of violations, serious review and criticism of cadres, party members, workers and civil servants who show signs of self-interest and waste in organizing weddings is not strict and does not have a high deterrent effect.

To promote the achieved results, overcome shortcomings and limitations, and at the same time create strong consensus among the people on implementing a cultural lifestyle regarding weddings, in the coming time, Party committees, authorities, the Fatherland Front and organizations at all levels need to focus on implementing the following contents:

Firstly: Continue to lead and effectively direct the implementation of solutions to promote positive aspects in implementing a cultural and civilized lifestyle for weddings, aiming at the goal of building and developing Vietnamese culture and people, including the cultural identity and people of Nghe An, in the spirit of Resolution 33-NQ/TW dated June 9, 2014 of the Central Executive Committee (11th tenure) "on building and developing Vietnamese culture and people to meet the requirements of sustainable national development".

Second: Strengthen propaganda and education work to raise awareness and responsibility of agencies, organizations, cadres, party members and people for preserving and promoting the fine traditional cultural values ​​of each locality and ethnic group in weddings; promptly correct and correct deviations, criticize negative manifestations; link criteria for implementing a civilized lifestyle in weddings with the implementation of the movements "All people unite to build a cultural life" and "All people join hands to build new rural areas".

Third: Promote the pioneering and exemplary role of cadres, party members, civil servants, especially leaders and managers at all levels in building and implementing a cultural lifestyle regarding weddings; associated with the implementation of Regulation No. 101-QD/TW of the Central Party Secretariat "on the responsibility of setting an example for cadres and party members, especially key cadres at all levels" and Directive 05-CT/TW dated May 15, 2016 of the Politburo "on promoting the study and following of Ho Chi Minh's ideology, morality and lifestyle".

Fourth: Continue to direct the development and promotion of civilized and economical wedding models, creating consensus and response throughout society. At the same time, encourage the organization and implementation of collective wedding models according to civilized and economical criteria in agencies, units and communities.

Fifth: Timely and effectively implement Decision No. 60/2016/QD-UBND dated October 10, 2016 of the Provincial People's Committee "on regulations on implementing civilized lifestyles in weddings, funerals and festivals in Nghe An province". Strictly implement the wedding supervision regime for cadres, party members, civil servants and public employees; attach criteria for implementing weddings according to cultural lifestyles to the annual emulation rankings of individuals and cultural titles; strictly handle violations in organizing weddings.

(Article by Comrade Ho Phuc Hop - Member of the Standing Committee, Head of the Provincial Party Committee's Propaganda Department)