(VOVworld) - Bao Thang district is located in the center of Lao Cai province. Over the past 2 years, the local villagers have been participating in the new rural development program. The district has exercised democracy and received the public support to building new rural areas. People in Bao Thang district are conscious of their central role in this program. Hundreds of thousands of square meters of donated land and tens of thousands of donated man hours are vivid evidence of the people’s involvement.
A fish breeding farm in Phu Nhuan commune, Bao Thang district (photo: baolaocai.com) |
People in Lang Gao hamlet, Xuan Quang commune, are happy about completing a 5-km road. The total cost was approximately 3 billion VND. Nearly half of the sum was from the state budget and the rest was from public contributions. On average, each household also contributed 29 workdays.
In order to rally the people, the authorities had to create public consensus and promote democracy. Many other communes in Bao Thang district have also effectively exercised democracy in building new rural areas. Besides donating money and workdays, the villagers also donated hundreds of square meters of land to build public works. Tran Quang Chuong, Chairman of the Phu Nhuan communal People’s Committee, says: "Since the establishment of the steering committee, sectors and organizations have gotten involved in the program and implemented uniform measures. The people are informed about any activity such as installing electrical lines and building roads and schools. In the end, new rural areas will benefit the people."
The Youth Union, the Women’s Union, and the Elderly Association have also participated in the program. Nguyen The Anh is Secretary of Phu Nhuan commune’s Youth Union: "The communal authority has organized movements to get young people involved in building roads and donating land. Implementing the 17 criteria on environmental protection, we have asked young people to dig holes to bury waste."
The Women’s Union of Bao Thang district has replicated the model of “clean house, nice garden”, while the Farmers’ Association has launched the movement “Improving the environment”. The district has formed 100 communication groups consisting of hamlet chiefs and senior and prestigious villagers to promote unity in building new rural areas. Dang Phi Van is Secretary of Bao Thang district’s Party Committee. "This is a key program and we have the involvement of all people and Party members. Building new rural areas aims to improve people’s living conditions and benefits. Our lesson is that the people have to realize their central role in this program. We have to inspire people’s consensus and potential."
Since implementing the new rural development program, Bao Thang district has added over 300 hectares of high-quality rice fields, and 20 hectares of tea trees under Vietnam’s Good Agricultural Practices (Viet GAP). Animal husbandry farms have applied advanced, environmentally friendly processes. The district has 150 large-scale husbandry farms raising 15,600 cows and buffalos, and 140,000 pigs.