With over 80 km of border shared with Cambodia, the seven western border communes of Gia Lai province are not only a bulwark protecting national sovereignty but also a key area in the socio-economic development strategy. However, the journey towards sustainable poverty reduction here has never been easy.
The vast and fragmented terrain makes transportation in border communes extremely difficult. The population is largely ethnic minorities with limited education levels, and the security and defense situation is constantly fluctuating… all of which create significant challenges in improving the lives of people in border areas. In this context, grassroots officials in border villages and hamlets play a crucial role as a "bridge" between the Party, the State, and the people. They not only convey policies and guidelines to individual households but also directly mobilize, guide, and support the people in building their homeland step by step.
One October afternoon in Ia Mơ commune, officers and soldiers from the Ia Mơ Border Guard Post visited the home of Mrs. Rơ Lan Blê, a poor single mother, to help clean and repair her house, replace light bulbs, build a toilet, and provide rice and other necessities. Deeply moved by the officers and soldiers' concern, Mrs. Rơ Lan Blê shared: “Thanks to the border guards who came to help, my house seems brighter. Their kindness warms my heart and gives me more faith to overcome difficulties.”
In Kom Yo village (Ia Chia commune), Ms. Ro Lan H'Liu was deeply moved when officers and soldiers from the Ia Chia Border Guard Post came to start the construction of a new house for her family. Her dilapidated house had almost completely collapsed after a heavy rain at the end of September, leaving three people living in fear and insecurity. Ms. H'Liu and her husband have no land for farming and have to work as laborers, resulting in unstable income and a very difficult life. Understanding her family's situation, the Ia Chia Border Guard Post proposed to the Provincial Border Guard Command to implement support under the model "Helping one poor household in the border area each week". Lieutenant Colonel Dinh O Ring, Deputy Political Officer of Ia Chia Border Guard Station, said: “After receiving approval from superiors, we coordinated with local authorities to survey and mobilize philanthropists and businesses in the area to join hands in helping. Just a few days after launching the campaign, we raised 70 million VND and started construction of a new house for Ms. H'Líu, expected to be completed in November 2025.”
As one of the key border communes of Gia Lai province, Ia Dom has 16.2 km of border with Cambodia and a natural area of 14,562 hectares. Of this, more than 10,800 hectares are planned for the development of key crops such as rubber, cashew, coffee, and fruit trees, creating a solid agricultural economic foundation for the locality.
“Currently, the average income of the people is approximately 52 million VND/person/year; there are still 103 poor households, accounting for 4.6%. The political and border security situation in the commune is basically stable. The commune government closely coordinates with the forces stationed in the area to implement programs supporting livelihoods, vocational training, improving infrastructure, and enhancing the quality of life for the people. Economic development combined with maintaining national defense and security has helped Ia Dom become a shining example in sustainable poverty reduction in the border region.”
Chairman of the People's Committee of Le Trong Phuc commune said:
To promote sustainable poverty reduction, Gia Lai province organized intensive training courses for 96 officials in charge of poverty reduction work in 48 border villages; focusing on skills in approaching poor households, identifying the causes and appropriate support needs, and sharing practical experiences at the grassroots level. Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Le Thi Thu Huong, said: “To effectively reduce poverty, we must start with people. Grassroots officials are the core force, close to the people, understanding the people, capable of mobilizing and building trust so that people change their mindset and boldly engage in economic activities.”
Chairman of the Gia Lai Provincial People's Committee, Pham Anh Tuan, affirmed that poverty reduction is a crucial political task, closely linked to maintaining national defense and security. Communes must achieve the goal of poverty reduction as quickly as possible. According to Gia Lai province's Plan No. 22/KH-UBND, the target by the end of 2025 is to reduce the poverty rate across the province to below 2%, and by approximately 3% for ethnic minority households. To achieve this goal, the province has determined that it must implement a comprehensive set of solutions to develop livelihoods, improve the quality of education, healthcare, housing, clean water, vocational training, and job creation.
The province has directed that localities must have weekly and monthly plans to review poor households; closely monitor the situation to provide timely support measures. Poverty reduction is not only about increasing income but also about raising awareness, creating stable livelihoods, and helping people feel secure in staying on their land and in their villages. From seedlings and livestock to housing and production land, forces such as border guards, economic-defense units, and mass organizations have joined hands to support people in border areas with the goal of ensuring they are not alone on their journey out of poverty.
QUOC THAI
Source: https://baolamdong.vn/giam-ngheo-ben-vung-o-cac-xa-bien-gioi-402618.html
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