The Cham people and the power of unity in building new rural areas.

Throughout November, various locations across the province are successively organizing the National Unity Day. Among them, Tinh My village, Phan Thanh commune (Bac Binh district) is one of the chosen locations in the province to hold the event commemorating the 93rd anniversary of the Vietnam Fatherland Front's Traditional Day (November 18, 1930 – November 18, 2023) and in response to the "National Unity for Building New Rural Areas and Civilized Urban Areas" campaign launched by the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front.

Unity and mutual support for economic development.

We arrived at Tinh My village, Phan Thanh commune, early in the morning on the 2023 National Unity Day. Located right next to National Highway 1A, near the center of Bac Binh district, the village's cultural center was filled with colorful flags and flowers, along with bright smiles. Being a weekend, the joyful and warm atmosphere of the festival was further amplified by the large number of people who gathered at the village's cultural center.

Tinh My Village Cultural Center.

Mr. Dong Thanh Vien – Head of Tinh My village shared: This is a village predominantly inhabited by the Cham people, following the Brahman and Bani religions. The total population of the village is 1,349 people/292 households, with a small number of Kinh people living alongside them. Of these, 30 households are wealthy (10%); 79 households are well-off (27%); 168 households are average (27%); and 14 households are near-poor. There are no poor households. Due to limited residential area and land, expansion is not possible in Tinh My village. The area of ​​agricultural and residential land is cramped, so most villagers live by farming (main crops are dragon fruit and rice) and working as laborers; there are no other occupations. Accordingly, the village's natural land area is only 125 hectares, of which 46 hectares are used for three rice crops per year; and 41 hectares are used for seasonal dragon fruit cultivation and off-season artificial lighting, yielding approximately 2,000 tons. However, current dragon fruit prices are unstable, and investment capital is insufficient, resulting in low yields and production, which negatively impacts family finances.

Farmers tending to rice crops in Phan Thanh commune (photo by N. Lan)

Rice harvest in Phan Thanh commune (photo: N. Lan)

Despite these difficulties, to ensure efficient land production, farmers plowed 100% of the area right from the start of the season. They also fully prepared seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides, carried out production on time, and protected and cared for the crops according to the technical procedures guided by the Agricultural Extension Station. Mr. Uc Sinh Quan – a resident of Tinh My village – shared: "In 2023, the weather was favorable, with plenty of rain and abundant water for rice production. At this time, the greatest joy for the villagers in particular and the Cham people of Phan Thanh commune in general is the highest rice price ever (over 9,000 VND/kg), so almost every family made a considerable profit during the rice harvest."

Changes in the development of cultural life

Besides helping each other develop economically, according to Mr. Bui Van Thang - Head of the "All People Unite to Build New Rural Areas" Campaign Committee in Tinh My village in 2023, the campaign is becoming increasingly meaningful and practical, integrating into the lives of the people.

The people have enthusiastically competed in all aspects of economic development, cultural life building, and maintaining security and order in the area. Besides available capital and labor, they have also received support loans from the Agricultural Bank and the Policy Bank, as well as revolving loans from various organizations, to continue investing in production and daily life. This has contributed to stabilizing and improving the lives of the people. The most notable result is that the material and spiritual lives of the people are increasingly improving, the rural landscape is becoming more vibrant and progressive in many aspects, creating favorable conditions for launching and implementing movements in residential areas.

The Ramuwan festival in Phan Thanh commune (photo by N. Lan).

According to Mr. Thang, the campaign has created significant changes in building a healthy and rich cultural and spiritual life in residential areas, preserving and promoting national cultural identity, caring for education , providing healthcare, and effectively implementing population control and family planning.

In 2023, information dissemination was carried out through various forms, enabling the people to promptly grasp the policies and laws of the Party and the State. In particular, the campaign to encourage registration of "Culturally Advanced Families" became an annual emulation movement and an important criterion in the evaluation of "Culturally Advanced Families" for cadres, Party members, and all strata of people in the village. The entire village registered 255 out of 283 households as "Culturally Advanced Families," reaching 90%. In 2023, 249 out of 255 households achieved the title of "Culturally Advanced Family," reaching 96.86%, including 229 households (92%) that achieved this title for three consecutive years.

Tịnh Mỹ village (Phan Thanh commune) viewed from above.

Besides the emulation movement for the title of "Culturally Advanced Family," the village's organizing committee also continuously strives to achieve the title of "Culturally Advanced Village." Cultural, artistic, and sports activities are maintained and organized to serve the ethnic minority people during holidays and festivals, all in a joyful and healthy manner, continuing to promote and preserve the ethnic cultural identity. Funeral, wedding, and memorial services are organized by the Association in a way that suits the conditions and circumstances of each family, limiting ostentatious displays and reflecting a civilized way of life. This contributes to the strength of unity in building a new rural area for the Cham people in Phan Thanh commune in particular and Bac Binh district in general, making it increasingly prosperous.

Mr. Le Huy Toan - Provincial Party Committee member - Editor-in-Chief of Binh Thuan Newspaper, presents gifts to disadvantaged people at the 2023 National Unity Day celebration in Tinh My village.

Building on the achievements and overcoming existing difficulties, Phan Thanh commune in general and Tinh My village in particular are continuing to mobilize the people to change the crop structure to suit the land conditions and seasons in order to reduce losses during production. They are also encouraging the people to cooperate with state agencies in concreting the remaining rural roads. At the same time, they are striving to preserve the national cultural identity and build a clean and beautiful village environment. Most importantly, they are promoting the role of Party members, the elderly, religious leaders, and exemplary individuals to serve as a core force, actively creating a united strength to build a new rural area in Bac Binh...

Source: https://baobinhthuan.com.vn/bac-binh-dong-bao-cham-va-suc-manh-doan-ket-xay-dung-nong-thon-moi-114650.html