Taking care of personnel matters.

In many mountainous areas, ethnic minority officials are always given attention and care. Photo: DANG NGUYEN

"The connector" in the forest

After many years of dedicated work in "preserving" traditional culture, in 2023, Mr. Pơloong Plênh (born in 1986) was appointed Deputy Head of the Culture and Sports Department of Tây Giang district.

For many visitors, especially folklore researchers, Pơloong Plênh seems to become a companion, helping to connect throughout their journey to the Tây Giang region to learn about and research the indigenous Cơ Tu culture.

Despite being young, Mr. Plênh is very knowledgeable about traditional culture. After studying at the Ho Chi Minh City University of Culture, he decided to return to his hometown to contribute to the preservation and safeguarding of the culture.

It was 2013, a time when local authorities were making efforts to revive the traditional Co Tu communal houses and huts, paving the way for tourism development. So, we went.

Plênh spends more time in the mountains than at home. On his days off, he travels throughout the highland villages, both to raise community awareness and to learn about and research traditional cultural values ​​that are facing the risk of disappearing.

Pơloong Plênh (second from the right) during a tour guiding visitors to experience the cypress heritage site. Photo: DANG NGUYEN

Drawing on his accumulated experience, Pơloong Plênh demonstrated his keen insight after many years of service, becoming the chosen successor to the role of "guardian of the temple," aiming to promote cultural and tourism development. This also led to the creation of mountain-crossing tours, allowing tourists to explore and experience the Co Tu culture intertwined with the heritage forest.

The networking work helped Plênh successfully promote local tourism, generating income for the people through the stories of their community's culture. However, the efforts of this young Co Tu man were affected and impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in fewer tourist trips.

“Post-pandemic recovery efforts are continuing, with the support of the community. This begins with re-establishing the Co Tu drum and gong ensembles in each village and commune, linked to the restoration of accommodation facilities.”

"Recognizing the benefits of cultural tourism, many locals have joined in, becoming guides for tourists on their journey to explore and experience the community's cultural space, especially the traditional Co Tu villages and rare heritage forests such as cypress, rhododendron, banyan, and green lim trees... that are still preserved intact in the Eastern Truong Son forest," Pơloong Plênh shared.

In the highlands, there aren't many people like Mr. Plênh who have such connections. But thankfully, this spirit of following in his footsteps is quietly taking shape among local officials.

For example, Ríah Dung, Secretary of the Youth Union of Ga Ry commune (Tay Giang district), is beginning to develop a tourism startup idea through a farm model, using local specialty products as the core. Similarly, the Ngoc Linh ginseng garden tourism destinations of many young officials in Nam Tra My district create a "double" benefit, connecting tourism and promoting the development of medicinal plant economics under the forest canopy...

Many ethnic minority officials are very attentive and concerned about the lives of local people. Photo: DANG NGUYEN

Quang Nam currently has 3,751 ethnic minority cadres, civil servants, and public employees, accounting for 10.5%; of which 34 are at the provincial level, 185 at the district level, and 1,070 at the commune level, with 2,462 being public employees.

By 2023, the province had 658 ethnic minority officials, civil servants, and public employees working in state agencies and public service units at the provincial level out of 10,215 allocated positions, reaching 6.4%. 1,243 ethnic minority officials and civil servants were representatives in People's Councils at all levels, accounting for 21%.

"Forging" character

Young officials in the highlands are now demonstrating their capabilities after being "honed" at the grassroots level. For example, Nguyen Xuan Nghiem (born in 1986, a Co Tu ethnic minority), after being assigned to be the Chairman of the People's Committee of Ba commune (Dong Giang district), has been "received" by the district.

Leveraging his professional capabilities in his role as Chief of the District Party Committee Office, at the beginning of 2024, Nguyen Xuan Nghiem was appointed Head of the Dong Giang District Party Committee's Organization Department at the age of 38.

Mr. Le Duy Thang, Secretary of the Dong Giang District Party Committee, said that the locality is "rejuvenating" its staff, especially at the commune level. Based on professional training and development, many officials are demonstrating their abilities and practical experience, fulfilling their duties in serving the people. According to Mr. Thang, the training process at the grassroots level helps successor officials develop creativity and sharp thinking, successfully completing all assigned tasks.

In Dong Giang, besides Nguyen Xuan Nghiem, Head of the District Party Committee's Organization Department, the locality has recently appointed many young Co Tu cadres with practical abilities to key leadership positions.

Ethnic minority officials play a significant role in cultural preservation and socio-economic development in mountainous regions. Photo: DANG NGUYEN

Notable examples include: Deputy Chairman of the District People's Committee Do Huu Tung (born in 1984); Head of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Coor Le (born in 1985); Secretary of the Party Committee of Ka Dang Commune - Le Van Tu (born in 1987); Deputy Secretary of the District Youth Union Ating Toan (born in 1994)...

According to Lalim Hau, Permanent Deputy Secretary of the Nam Giang District Party Committee, assessments show that the placement and utilization of ethnic minority cadres in the locality have seen many positive changes, especially among young cadres and female cadres.

To gain experience in the workplace and enhance their skills at the grassroots level, Nam Giang has recently focused on transferring and rotating officials from the district to the communes and vice versa, ensuring a strengthening of human resources in necessary areas and sectors.

“During the 2020-2025 term, Nam Giang has 24 ethnic minority cadres participating in the District Party Committee, of which 6 cadres participate in the District Party Standing Committee, accounting for 46.15%. Through training and development, many cadres have developed excellent capabilities, meeting both professional tasks and practical experience requirements,” said Mr. Lalim Hau.

Source: https://baoquangnam.vn/cham-lo-cong-tac-can-bo-3141588.html