Supporting veterans

Over the past period, alongside actively participating in political tasks, the Veterans' Associations at all levels throughout the province have consistently promoted charitable activities, helping each other reduce poverty, thereby improving the material and spiritual lives of members and contributing to the socio-economic development of the locality. In addition to regularly assisting members in economic development, the Veterans' Associations at all levels also mobilize members to contribute to the "Comradeship Fund" to support the construction and repair of houses for veterans in particularly difficult circumstances.

The seedling production model of war veteran Le Van Viet in Quang Yen commune, Thanh Ba district, generates revenue of over 1 billion VND per year, creating jobs for many local workers.

Promoting the role of a bridge

Currently, the Provincial Veterans Association has 319 branches with over 116,200 members. Implementing Resolution No. 09-NQ/TW of the Politburo on strengthening the Party's leadership over the work of Vietnamese veterans in the new revolutionary period, the Provincial Veterans Association has directed its branches at all levels to actively innovate the content and methods of implementation; focusing on building a strong organization, promoting the role of a bridge between members and the organization and the government, and actively contributing to consolidating and building the political system at the grassroots level.

The movement "Veterans helping each other develop family economies , eradicate hunger and poverty, and excel in economic activities" continues to be promoted and deepened, with active participation from members. Veterans' associations at all levels are strengthening propaganda and mobilization efforts to encourage veteran members to find new economic development directions, shift production structures based on local conditions and strengths, and actively participate in training courses on scientific and technical transfer to improve knowledge and accumulate experience, thereby effectively applying it to their family models.

Veterans' associations at all levels also received entrusted funds from the Social Policy Bank totaling over 1.476 billion VND, providing loans to over 26,700 veteran households for investment in family economic development. This, along with loans from the National Employment Fund totaling over 6 billion VND and internal funds contributed by members exceeding 61 billion VND, provided as interest-free or low-interest loans for economic development, has contributed to creating jobs for over 60,000 workers.

Visiting the seedling production model of veteran Le Van Viet – a role model of a veteran excelling in business for many years in Dinh Dong area, Quang Yen commune, Thanh Ba district – we learned that his family has been in the seedling nursery business for a long time and has faced many difficulties. However, thanks to actively participating in training courses organized by the Veterans Association and the local authorities, and accumulating more experience over the years, Mr. Viet decided to expand his nursery area and cultivate more new tree varieties. Currently, Mr. Le Van Viet's family has over 2 hectares of nursery land, supplying seedlings to key projects as well as serving the needs of greening barren land and hills in many localities nationwide. Annually, the revenue from Mr. Viet's nursery reaches over 1 billion VND, providing regular employment for 10 workers.

Veteran Nguyen Dinh Thien (far right) is delighted with his new home.

Motivating others to strive for success.

Not only have the Veterans Association at all levels accompanied war veterans in economic development and fostered camaraderie, but they have also implemented many practical activities to support members in improving their lives. Following the motto "helping those in need," war veterans throughout the province have joined hands to contribute to the "Comradeship Fund" to support the construction and repair of houses for members in difficult circumstances.

“It is only when life is difficult that we truly see the meaning of camaraderie. The care and support from the Veterans Association at all levels and the local veterans' association members and officials are a great source of encouragement, a priceless gift to my family. I am always grateful and appreciative…” These were the words of veteran and wounded soldier Nguyen Dinh Thien from Zone 5, Phung Nguyen commune, Lam Thao district, when he spoke with us in his new house named “Comradeship and Solidarity.” His face clearly showed his emotion, because perhaps without the encouragement and help of the Association and everyone else, he wouldn't have dared to dream of a spacious house like this.

Through our conversation, we learned that in 1977, veteran Nguyen Dinh Thien participated in combat and was wounded in the Cambodian battlefield, suffering a 4/4 disability. In 1982, he was discharged from the army and returned to his hometown. Due to poor health and inability to do heavy labor, he relied solely on a veteran's allowance of nearly 3 million VND per month, causing significant financial difficulties for his family. For many years, veteran Nguyen Dinh Thien's family lived in a severely dilapidated house that was at risk of collapsing during storms. Given this situation, the District Veterans Association provided 40 million VND to help veteran Nguyen Dinh Thien's family build a new house with an area of ​​90m2, a flat roof, and heat-resistant tiles, totaling over 300 million VND.

Thanks to the support of the Veterans' Association, the province now has 253 small and medium-sized enterprises, 58 cooperatives, 1 cooperative group, over 2,800 farms and family farms, and over 4,300 business households owned by veterans. Their production and business activities have developed steadily, fostering camaraderie and helping many members rise to achieve legitimate wealth.

In 2024, the Veterans' Associations at all levels in the province mobilized their members to contribute to the construction and repair of 70 "Comradeship Houses" worth nearly 4.8 billion VND, achieving 140% of the set plan. This activity has profound humanitarian significance, demonstrating the concern and care of the Veterans' Associations at all levels for member families facing housing difficulties.

Social welfare work has been strengthened, and activities to show gratitude to policy beneficiaries and meritorious individuals are always emphasized by all levels of the Association with funding of billions of VND per year. The Association also regularly pays attention to and proactively understands the circumstances and lives of its members' families to provide timely support, visits, and encouragement during illness, disease, or unexpected difficulties, giving veterans more motivation to overcome challenges in life.

The Chairman of the Provincial Veterans Association, Major General Tran Anh Du, affirmed: The Veterans Association in the province always fully implements all regulations and policies, ensuring the legitimate rights of its members. As a bridge between members and the Association, the various levels of the Association continue to thoroughly understand and implement resolutions and directives from higher levels; at the same time, they promote propaganda and launch emulation movements among all members; encouraging cadres and members to focus on developing family economies, promoting the spirit of mutual support and solidarity, enthusiastically sharing and helping disadvantaged veterans to improve their material and spiritual lives, enhancing the effectiveness of emulation movements, and contributing to consolidating and building a strong Association organization to meet the requirements and tasks set forth.

Mai Hoa

Source: https://baophutho.vn/dong-hanh-with-veterans-230921.htm