The role of the grassroots political system in new rural construction

(Baonghean) - In the process of building new rural areas, lessons learned show that where the grassroots political system operates effectively and resolutely, the great potential of the people can be exploited to quickly reach the finish line.

Promote consensus between party ideas and people's hearts.

Building a new rural area (NTM) is a revolution in the countryside, comprehensive and comprehensive in both economy, society and politics. To build a NTM with a gradually modern economic and social infrastructure; with a reasonable economic structure and production organization forms; linking agriculture with rapid development of industry and services; linking rural development requires all levels and sectors to have strategic solutions according to the approved planning.

People of Nghia Thai commune (Tan Ky) build rural traffic. Photo: Chau Lan

Up to now, in addition to completing the planning for new rural construction of all communes, all levels have built and upgraded 3,372 km of rural roads, over 1,850 km of canals, 1,941 km of power lines, 397 standard cultural houses; built over 400 production development models... The total capital mobilized to implement the new rural program reached over 13.9 trillion VND. According to the assessment of the Provincial New Rural Construction Coordination Board, there are currently 13 communes that have achieved the set of 19 criteria. That result reflects the efforts at the grassroots level and affirms: Mobilizing people's strength and the active participation of the grassroots political system play a decisive role.

Through the assessment of some communes preparing to reach the NTM finish line such as: Nam Cat (Nam Dan), Nghia Dong (Tan Ky), Dien Hong (Dien Chau), Nghi Xuan (Nghi Loc), Dien My (Dien Chau) ... we see that: In these communes, reaching the NTM finish line early is thanks to knowing how to promote the role of the grassroots political system. Mr. Vuong Hong Thai - Secretary of the Party Committee of Nam Cat commune (Nam Dan), a commune that achieved the NTM criteria in 2014 said: "Nam Cat is a low-lying, purely agricultural area. Before registering to reach the NTM finish line, the commune only achieved 8 criteria. From 2011-2014, Nam Cat was directed by Nam Dan district to reach the NTM finish line in 2015. The entire political system has made great efforts to unite, stick to the grassroots, stick to the area, listen to the thoughts and aspirations of the people, and advise the district and commune to get involved.

Thanks to a high sense of responsibility, the assignment of specific tasks to each department, branch, and organization... Nam Thai has reached the NTM finish line ahead of schedule. The commune has mobilized 9.2 billion VND in contributions from the people to build rural traffic; 2.5 billion VND for irrigation in the fields..." Not only in Nam Cat, but also in Nghia Dong (Tan Ky), Nghi Xuan (Nghi Loc), Dien Hong (Dien Chau)... the grassroots political system operates smoothly, responsibly, for the common good, and is trusted and agreed by the people. Participating in this work, the Fatherland Front of the communes actively propagates and mobilizes the people, creating consensus between the Party's will and the people's hearts. From doing a good job of ideological work among the people, it brings about high consensus and unanimity to complete the criteria that need to be strived for.

Maximize local advantages

Building new rural areas must also be specified with criteria suitable for each region and each ethnic group. Especially with large areas, people living with different living conditions, customs and practices, especially ethnic minorities and mountainous areas, requiring us to build new rural areas appropriately and know how to exploit local strengths to spread and successfully implement the set goals.

With that requirement, grassroots cadres and ethnic minority cadres in the political system must be aware of the strengths of the region and must understand the people to join hands on the way to the destination. Cadres in the political system at the grassroots level are also exemplary pioneers in implementation, thereby convincing people to believe and follow. In addition, with their responsible positions, grassroots cadres need to play a key role in bringing scientific and technical advances and calling on businesses to cooperate with each family and village to develop production and livestock farming. In that process, the active participation in leadership and management of Party committees and authorities plays an important role, connecting the community to build village covenants and conventions according to the general direction, then advising each other to organize the implementation of the new rural cultural lifestyle at the grassroots level.

In the process of building a new countryside, no one can replace the Party Committee, the government and the people. Therefore, the core and decisive thing is to gather all people to implement it together. In that process, it is necessary to promote the responsibility of the grassroots political system; of each village elder, hamlet chief, village chief... this "team" must propagate, mobilize, and convince people to see and rise up to take control of their daily lives. From there, step by step organizing the implementation of the set criteria, we must always ask the question: Where to start and where to go? And strive to solve it proactively and creatively to lead to success. On the contrary, wherever or in which field there is dependence, reliance, and inferiority, then that field, that criterion will be difficult to reach the finish line.

To fulfill the requirements, Party committees and authorities at the grassroots level must innovate and improve their leadership and direction capacity; implement mechanisms and policies well, and create conditions for people to truly take ownership in building the new rural areas. The implementation process must adhere to the principles of democratic centralism, publicity and transparency; truly pay attention to the practical interests of the people in deciding on the selection of content, management, supervision and evaluation of the results of the implementation of the new rural program; At the same time, do a good job of emulation and reward to promptly encourage villages, organizations and individuals with achievements in building the new rural areas. All levels and sectors need to consider the results of building the new rural areas as a measure of capacity and sense of responsibility, a standard for evaluation and emulation of organizations and individual leaders in the political system at the grassroots level.

Rural areas of the country in general, Nghe An in particular, are large areas, with more than 70% of the population living in rural areas. In particular, rural areas of Nghe An have large differences in quality of life and income compared to urban areas... The need to make a living forces men and young people to go to urban areas to work, leading to the "feminization" of rural labor and the aging of farmers. This is a significant challenge in the process of building new rural areas. In response to that requirement, it requires a sense of responsibility, dedication, qualifications and capacity of grassroots cadres, thereby calling for the active participation of the people, combining investment sources mobilized from businesses and children living far from home in building new rural areas...

Vi Luu Binh

(Deputy Director of Department of Agriculture and Rural Development)