Electricity reaches remote villages.

April 21st was perhaps the happiest day for the people of the four highland villages of Lang Ca, Khe Ken, Pin Pe, and Ba Chum (Cat Thinh commune) when the national power grid finally reached their villages after many years of waiting. This light opens up many opportunities for development for these still struggling villages.

That night seemed to fall slower than usual. In the small courtyard in the middle of the village, old and young alike gathered, their eyes fixed on the power lines that had just been strung across the mountain. When the switch was flipped, the first lights blazed on, and the whole space erupted with joy, cheers mingling with enthusiastic applause. The electricity not only dispelled the darkness but also ignited hope after years of waiting.

The power poles and transformer stations bring light to the remote villages of Cat Thinh commune.

Previously, when night fell, the entire village was only dimly lit by a weak, water-powered generator. In the freezing winter, children huddled in the kitchen corner, reciting their lessons in the flickering, yellowish light. Adults hurried to finish their chores before darkness enveloped everything. Almost all activities ceased after dinner.

Without electricity, preserving food, accessing information, and developing the economy all became difficult. Life quietly dragged on through those months of scarcity.

Now that the national power grid has reached every home, changes are beginning to become apparent. The family of Mr. Sung A Gia in Ba Chum village is one of the first households to boldly purchase a range of household appliances: rice cooker, washing machine, refrigerator, fan, wifi, camera… bringing about a new way of life.

Mr. Gia recounted: "Previously, all family activities depended on a hydroelectric generator located several kilometers away from our house. On rainy and windy days, the generator frequently broke down, and the electricity flickered, disrupting our family's daily life and our children's studies."

Since electricity arrived, life in his small house has been "awakened." The rice cooker makes meals quicker and easier, the washing machine reduces some of the hard work for his wife, and the refrigerator allows the family to store food for long rainy days.

Mr. Sung A Gia has purchased many household items, including cameras to protect his security.

Then, pointing to the camera he had just installed in front of the house, he said, "Having it makes me feel more secure when I go to work in the fields. With electricity, life is much more convenient. More importantly, the children have better opportunities for education and more motivation to pursue their dreams."

It's not just Gia's family; the arrival of the national power grid in the village has opened up new opportunities for many households. In Lang Ca village, Giang A Chu is one of those who quickly seized the opportunity to develop their economy thanks to electricity.

Just two days after the electricity was switched on, he boldly bought a small refrigerator and stocked up on soft drinks, ice cream, and sweets to open a small stall right in front of his house.

After electricity became available, Giàng A Chu opened a small grocery store.

The simple grocery store was always bustling with people. After returning from the fields, villagers would stop by to rest, buy a bottle of cool water, or an ice cream cone for their children – things that used to be "luxuries" in this remote village.

Mr. Chu recounted: "Before, there was no electricity, so we couldn't sell anything because the goods spoiled easily. Now that we have electricity, we dare to work, which is convenient for the villagers and provides extra income for our family."

As night fell, the light from his small shop remained warm amidst the mountains and forests. A few people would sit around chatting and sewing, no longer the scene of everyone closing their doors at night. The village became more cheerful and closer as a result.

With electricity, the people of Cat Thinh highland will no longer suffer from the sweltering heat this summer.

The Party Secretary of Lang Ca village, Ho A Phenh, shared: "Perhaps this is the happiest year for the villagers ever, as in the same year, people have both electricity and roads, and life has turned a new page."

In the future, the people of Ca Village will invest in installing Wi-Fi, using smartphones to update information, learn about business practices, and gradually embrace digital transformation.

We will also continue to promote and encourage people to effectively utilize electricity, develop the economy, and improve their living standards. We believe that with the changes today, the village will become increasingly prosperous and well-off.”

The leaders of Cat Thinh commune and the Party Committee of Lang Ca village discussed plans for economic development after electricity is supplied.

The happiness of the people today is also the result of the considerable efforts of the local Party committee, government, and relevant agencies in bringing electricity to the villages. Because, to have electricity to light up the houses in Lang Ca, Khe Ken, Pin Pe, and Ba Chum, many difficulties had to be overcome.

During implementation, the biggest obstacle was clearing the safety corridor for the power grid, as some areas of crops belonging to local people were located within or near the corridor. With their livelihoods primarily based on agriculture and forestry, persuading people to prune their trees was initially not easy.

In addition, the complex mountainous terrain, difficult transportation, and scattered power supply points create numerous obstacles for construction, material transportation, and addressing technical issues.

Having electricity has helped create momentum for the development of four highland villages in Cat Thinh commune.

Faced with these difficulties, the People's Committee of the commune proactively implemented many comprehensive solutions. These ranged from intensifying propaganda and mobilization efforts to create consensus among the people, to closely coordinating with construction units and developing specific plans for each village.

The commune directly visited each household to mobilize and support the clearance of the corridor even before compensation was paid, creating favorable conditions for the construction unit to complete the remaining items and deploy electricity according to the plan.

In the coming period, the People's Committee of the commune will coordinate with relevant agencies to urgently count the trees and crops of the people in the area cleared for the power grid safety corridor in order to proceed with compensation in accordance with regulations.

Mr. Pham Van Vinh - Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Cat Thinh Commune.

The night in the highlands is different today. Where there was once only darkness and the sound of the forest wind, now the sounds of children studying, the lively chatter of televisions, and people chatting after a day in the fields can be heard. This light not only brings the breath of a new life but also opens the way to knowledge, opportunities, and dreams never dared to imagine. From here, the villages in Cat Thinh will no longer stand on the sidelines of development but will transform themselves day by day, paving the way for sustainable and long-term development.

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/dien-ve-ban-xa-post899093.html