Transformation in the challenging land of Thanh Tung

A LAND RICH IN TRADITION

Thanh Tung is an ancient land with a long history, closely linked to the formation and development of the traditionally rich Thanh Chuong region; it is the birthplace of famous scholars such as Nguyen Lam Tuan (Ph.B.), Nguyen Lam Thai (Doctor), Pham Kinh Vi (Doctor), along with many revolutionaries and intellectuals, most notably Vo Quy Huan - a Vietnamese expatriate intellectual invited back to Vietnam by President Ho Chi Minh and who became the founder of the Vietnamese metallurgy industry, making immense contributions to the nation...

A view of Thanh Tung commune. Photo: Nguyen Lam Son

Before the August Revolution, Thanh Tung belonged to the Tho Hao, then Bich Hao, and Bich Trieu districts. Here, from the end of December 1930, the Thanh Chuong District Party Committee established the first four Party branches operating in the area of ​​present-day Thanh Tung - Thanh Giang: the Cuong Son, Kim Son, Yen Thanh, and Thanh Son branches. These branches directly led the struggle against powerful landlords and French colonialists during the Nghe Tinh Soviet Uprising and the struggle for power in 1945.

Since the Party's founding and leadership of the revolution, many outstanding sons and daughters of Thanh Tung have been enlightened and joined the vanguard. Under the leadership of the two Party branches of Cuong Son and Yen Thanh and the General Committee, the people of the villages of My Son, Cuong Son, Nhan Thanh, Yen Khanh, etc., rose up in unison against imperialism and feudalism. Under the command of the Party organization, Party members and patriots such as Nguyen Lam Hieu, Phan Hieu, Phan Ba ​​Lac, etc., the people of Thanh Tung bravely demonstrated and fought, "eliminating the collaborators and eradicating evil." The Soviet government had barely been established when the enemy concentrated its forces to suppress and terrorize it, but the communists and the people remained steadfast in their fight and made sacrifices. In a relatively small rural area (by 1954, Thanh Tung commune had only 2,513 inhabitants), 36 people were imprisoned, and 16 were martyrs (including 12 who were imprisoned for 1 year to life, and 17 who were executed by firing squad or beheading). In addition, dozens of houses were burned, looted, and destroyed, which speaks volumes about the indomitable spirit of this rural region...

After the August Revolution, and following two divisions and name changes, on April 17, 1954, the Chairman of the Nghe An Provincial Resistance Administrative Committee issued a decision to divide the administrative units. Tan Dan commune was divided into three communes, and the name Thanh Tung commune was officially established and remains to this day.

Since the founding of the commune, in each historical period with different revolutionary tasks, the Party Committee and people of Thanh Tung have always stood shoulder to shoulder with the entire Party, army, and people of the country to successfully carry out many national revolutions. During the two protracted wars of national resistance, thousands of sons and daughters of Thanh Tung commune went to defend the Fatherland, undertaking various tasks such as participating in the youth volunteer corps, serving as frontline laborers, and directly fighting on the battlefields... Hundreds of sons and daughters of Thanh Tung fell, leaving behind parts of their bodies on the battlefields, contributing to the glorious victories of their homeland. Names of people, places, and landmarks such as Dong Ven, Cua Dinh, Con Chua, Eo Vang, Cua Chan, Phuong Hoang, Con Song, Cho Chuoi, and Bai Gia have marked the heroic struggles and also the pain and loss of the army and people of Thanh Tung in the revolutionary struggle.

The revolutionary tradition has forged the will and become an intrinsic strength for the Party Committee, government, and people of Thanh Tung commune to be self-reliant, overcome the consequences of war, and build and develop their homeland to become increasingly prosperous.

EFFORTS TO OVERCOME DIFFICULTIES IN BUILDING NEW RURAL AREAS

With its vast natural area, sparse population, and a terrain that is both hilly and low-lying, prone to drought even before the sun shines and flooding even before the rain falls, Thanh Tung is one of the most disadvantaged communes in Thanh Chuong district, and a key commune in the impoverished Bich Hao region...

Each year, Thanh Tung commune experiences 3-4 flooding events. (Photo: Archival image)

In early 2020, while many communes in Thanh Chuong district had already completed the new rural development program and advanced rural development, Thanh Tung commune was still facing numerous difficulties. The entire commune lacked even a single meter of concrete road within its hamlets; the school system and health station were dilapidated and in disrepair; the commune's People's Committee hall and other cultural facilities, built decades ago, were severely degraded; and criteria such as environment, income, health, education , and cultural infrastructure had not yet been met.

This is truly a daunting task because the commune starts from a very low base; the lives of the people are still very difficult. Natural disasters and epidemics occur frequently. Every year, Thanh Tung suffers from 2-3 floods and many droughts... There are not a single business located in the commune.

The resolution of the Thanh Tung Commune Party Congress for the 2020-2025 term set the goal of achieving the New Rural Area (NRA) status in 2024. However, with the strong determination of the Party Committee, government, and people, with the close guidance of the District Party Committee, the People's Committee, and the district's departments and agencies, and the support of the Provincial New Rural Area Program Coordination Office, Thanh Tung boldly adjusted its goal, determined to bring the commune to the NRA status in 2023.

The dilapidated facilities of Thanh Tung Secondary School used to be...

And here is the modern building of Thanh Tung Secondary School today. Photo: Nguyen Lam Son.

Faced with these difficulties, the Party Committee and people of Thanh Tung commune had to find a suitable approach and method, prioritizing easier tasks first and more difficult ones later, focusing efforts on sustainably completing each criterion. Mr. Phan Van Dung, Chairman of the People's Committee of Thanh Tung commune, said that when embarking on the new rural development program, the commune reviewed and developed specific solutions and methods, assigning specific tasks to each responsible official. “Thanh Tung commune focuses on three resources: Firstly, maximizing the mechanisms and policies of the Party, State, province, and district to attract projects and initiatives. Secondly, leveraging the internal resources of the people, mobilizing them to donate land, trees, labor, and money according to the principle of joint efforts between the state and the people. Thirdly, utilizing and appealing for the support of Thanh Tung commune's children living away from home through practical actions, contributing to the commune's renewal…,” Mr. Phan Van Dung affirmed.

Residents of Thuan Trung hamlet (Thanh Tung commune) are building the first concrete road in the hamlet. Photo: PV

With the right approach and the unity and concerted efforts of the people, the new rural development program in Thanh Tung quickly achieved positive results. In a short period, Thanh Tung mobilized over 81 billion VND for new rural development, including over 6.6 billion VND from the central government budget; over 21.7 billion VND from the provincial budget, over 28.7 billion VND from the district budget, and 8.7 billion VND from the commune budget.

A view of Thanh Tung commune today. Photo: Nguyen Lam Son.

Thanh Tung commune determined that the main actors in building new rural areas are the people; the people are the beneficiaries and also the direct participants in the process of building new rural areas. With this perspective, the commune has mobilized the strength of the entire population in the process of building new rural areas. The people of the commune have contributed 15.4 billion VND along with thousands of man-days of labor and donated thousands of square meters of land to build roads...

During that time, many people from Thanh Tung who were living away from home turned their attention to their homeland with practical contributions, such as Mr. Le Hung contributing over 600 million VND; Mr. Tran Thuc Linh over 200 million VND; Mr. Vo Van Tuu over 150 million VND; Mr. Pham Duc Hoan over 100 million VND... along with many other people who contributed their time and resources for the development of their hometown.

Following the principle of "the state and the people working together," with the state providing cement and the people contributing labor, Thanh Tung quickly paved over 23km of inter-hamlet roads, 12.2km of alleyways, and asphalted 7.2km of inter-commune roads. From having no concrete roads at all, 100% of village and alleyways in Thanh Tung have now been hardened to standard. The internal field transportation and irrigation systems have been upgraded, meeting the needs of agricultural production in the direction of industrialization and modernization.

In Thanh Tung commune, many economic bright spots have emerged, with many successful models being replicated, such as industrial tea cultivation linked to deep processing; farm and household farm models, and forest gardens... In 2023, the average per capita income of the commune reached 48.783 million VND. No families in the commune are living in temporary or thatched houses anymore; the poverty rate is only 5.24%. People of all faiths are united and working together to build a stronger and more prosperous homeland.

By the end of 2023, all inter-hamlet roads in Thanh Tung commune had been concreted. Photo: Nguyen Lam Son.

With economic development, the people's spiritual life has also improved. The commune has completed and met the standards for its cultural center, stadium, sports field, and playground, meeting the cultural and sports needs of the people. The school system at all three levels in Thanh Tung commune has been upgraded and improved, linked to enhancing the quality of comprehensive education. Currently, all three schools (kindergarten, primary, and secondary) in the commune meet the standards; the health station meets national standards; 100% of hamlets and agencies/units meet cultural standards... Security and order are ensured, with no major incidents occurring in the commune, and the Thanh Tung commune police force has been awarded the title of "Unit of Outstanding Achievement" by the police force;...

Thanks to the efforts, unity, and cooperation of the government and people, by the end of 2023, Thanh Tung commune had met 19 criteria and was recognized by the Provincial People's Committee as having completed the new rural development program in 2023. This is truly a joy and a source of pride for the Party Committee, government, and people of Thanh Tung commune, and a driving force for Thanh Tung to strive forward. This joy is even greater and more meaningful as the Party Committee, government, and people of Thanh Tung commune celebrate the 70th anniversary of the commune's establishment.

The road to Thanh Tung commune today. Photo: Nguyen Lam Son.

Mr. Tran Hung Mau, Secretary of the Thanh Tung Commune Party Committee, affirmed: "The process of building new rural areas in Thanh Tung is a continuous process, with a beginning but no end, aiming to bring happiness to the people and comprehensively develop the commune. Immediately after completing the construction of new rural areas, Thanh Tung commune will continue to embark on building advanced new rural areas with higher and more sustainable goals."

Proud of its traditions, looking towards the future, with a spirit of unity, creativity, boldness in thinking and acting, and with unwavering determination, the Party Committee, government, and people of Thanh Tung commune will transform difficulties into internal strength, building Thanh Tung into an increasingly prosperous and beautiful homeland, becoming a livable area, a shining example, and a source of pride for the heroic Thanh Chuong region.

Source: https://baonghean.vn/buoc-chuyen-minh-o-vung-dat-kho-thanh-tung-post288055.html