Raise high the flag of solidarity, gather to care for people's lives

The 15th Congress of the Vietnam Fatherland Front of Thanh Hoa province, term 2024 - 2029, is a link between the past journey and the future, continuing to concretize the role and position of the Vietnam Fatherland Front as the political foundation of the People's government, a place to express the will and aspirations, gather the great solidarity of the people, promote the people's mastery so that the people are the subject, the center of all policies and strategies...

View of the 15th Congress of the Vietnam Fatherland Front of Thanh Hoa province, term 2024 - 2029. (Photo: Minh Hieu).

1. On the eve of the 15th Congress of the Vietnam Fatherland Front of Thanh Hoa province, I returned to the resettlement area for people living on the river in Lam Dat village, Thieu Vu commune (Thieu Hoa), and met people who were burning with the desire to have land and a house. In a solid house that was still sparkling with new colors, Nguyen Van Hau (born in 1980) looked at the children of the fishing village playing in front of the yard, laughing. They were happy, he was happy too. For him, although life was not yet full, and there was a lack of furniture and appliances, being able to live in a new house and on the shore was an endless joy, like a... privilege given by society. He smiled: "Even in my dreams, I can't see it, uncle. I don't know how to express it all. From my great-grandfather's generation, my grandfather's generation, and my father's generation, drifting around, living and dying on the river, they still longed for the day they could reach the shore, but before me, has anyone been able to touch that dream?!".

A corner of the resettlement area for people living on the river in Lam Dat village, Thieu Vu commune (Thieu Hoa).

Looking at me with sparkling eyes, I knew he was very happy. Because it wasn't that far away, the last time we met was 2 years ago, on a pouring rain afternoon in the Thuy Co fishing village floating on the Chu River, Hau was soaked like a rat in a shabby boat surrounded by corrugated iron and covered with canvas, but there was no dry place, it smelled musty. Even the altar of his unfortunate wife after a boat accident was soaked, water was dripping down. But that boat was the only shelter for his 5 children and his old mother who was near death, drifting up Tho Xuan, down Ba Bong, Lach Truong... chasing shrimp and fish. Then when the river was low and there were no fish or shrimp, the men of the fishing village like Hau went ashore to do porters, work for hire, even become "sand bandits", just to make ends meet. Life is a journey from place to place, his four children eat only chicken and duck eggs, there are more hungry days than full days, they are less at school but more on the river, so he doesn't dare think about tomorrow...

Comrade Do Trong Hung, member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Council congratulated and shared joy with the people living on the river to be able to live in a new house in Lam Dat village, Thieu Vu commune, August 2023. (Photo courtesy of Minh Hieu)

After Notice No. 129-TB/VPTU, dated April 18, 2022 of the Provincial Party Committee Office announcing the Conclusion of Comrade Do Trong Hung, Member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Council at the Conference on implementing the work of supporting the construction of houses for poor people living on the river in localities in the province, in Lam Dat village, Thieu Vu commune (Thieu Hoa), a resettlement area has existed with full civil works, serving the relocation of 28 households/140 people of Catholic people living on the river with permanent residence in Thieu Vu commune to the shore. Nguyen Van Hau's family is one of those lucky households. Not only was they granted land, each household was also supported with 150 million VND from the Provincial Fatherland Front Committee, Thieu Hoa District Fatherland Front Committee and Caritas of Thanh Hoa Diocese to build houses. Then when building houses, the Fatherland Front Committee of Thieu Vu commune mobilized all classes of people in the commune to join hands to support, some scooped sand to make mortar, some carried bricks, cooked rice and water, then carried belongings, helping households living on the river to go ashore to stabilize their lives.

Mr. Nguyen Van Hau's joy in his new house.

Today, Lam Dat was a joy with bright smiles under the rows of red flags with yellow stars fluttering - the rows of flags welcoming the 15th Congress of the Vietnam Fatherland Front of Thanh Hoa province, term 2024-2029, which the people had just excitedly hung up. Isn't that a humane mark of the Provincial Fatherland Front Committee in the past term, which has widely gathered all classes of people to join hands to donate and support to give opportunities and create strong motivation for the households living on the river to come ashore, escape poverty and backwardness?

Children in Thuy Co fishing village can play and study, and do not have to live with their parents on the river. (Photo courtesy of Minh Hieu).

Under the direction of the Provincial Party Committee, the Standing Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front in coordination with the Thanh Hoa Bishopric and localities mobilized people living on the river to move ashore to stabilize their lives. Up to now, the whole province has had 179 households granted land with an area of ^20,205m2 . The Fatherland Front and units have mobilized funds to support the construction of 182 Great Unity houses for people living on the river with a total value of over 52,442 billion VND.

2. In the border commune of Son Thuy (Quan Son), Mr. Thao Van Cong (born in 1983) is not only loved by the Mong people because he is the Chairman of the Commune Fatherland Front Committee, but also because of his closeness, sincerity, and his actions. Thanks to that closeness and sincerity, Mr. Cong has mobilized the Mong people in Xia Noi and Mua Xuan villages to follow the Party's policy of eliminating bad customs in funerals, incestuous marriages, focusing on intensive agriculture , eliminating the practice of shifting cultivation and self-sufficiency.

The roads to the villages of Mua Xuan and Xia Noi, Son Thuy commune (Quan Son) have been invested and upgraded.

The story of mobilizing the Mong people to put the deceased in a coffin was a long journey that the young President of the Fatherland Front told me, with all kinds of difficulties and hardships. No one knows since when, in funerals, no Mong people would put the deceased in a coffin, but instead put them on a stretcher hanging on the house. When in need, they borrowed money, had to slaughter enough buffaloes and cows to worship the dead, "showing filial piety" for a whole week. Some families, because of the funeral, still had not paid off their debts after 5 years, their poor life became even poorer.

Chairman of the Fatherland Front Committee of Son Thuy Commune (Quan Son) Thao Van Cong (far left) together with village officials and border guards propagate and mobilize people to eliminate bad customs and develop the economy.

But then, with the Party's policy and the determination of the entire political system in the commune, the Son Thuy Commune Fatherland Front Committee has developed a plan to organize and implement it systematically, scientifically and in accordance with the level and awareness of the people. And Mr. Cong himself, day and night, together with the Party Committee and the village Front Committee, mobilized the heads of clans and prestigious people in the Mong ethnic minority area to go to every alley and knock on every door to propagate and mobilize. At first, no one listened, but then he persevered and persevered, the rain soaked in, and gradually some households followed. And up to now, all funerals in the villages: Mua Xuan, Xia Noi have been organized according to the new lifestyle, the deceased is put in a coffin, no funerals, lavish meals causing waste and expense...

A corner of Xuan village, Son Thuy commune (Quan Son). (Photo courtesy of Quang Trung).

The same is true in the story of mobilizing the Mong people to grow wet rice, it is not easy. For generations, the Mong people in Son Thuy have been stubbornly going into the deep forest, cutting down trees when they see them, destroying forests when they see them, just trying to get some bare land to plant seeds, then leave it there to wait for water from the sky, whether it works or not. As for the land near their houses, along the stream that is convenient for irrigation, they leave it there, letting weeds grow wildly. Poverty and deprivation also come from that, the vast forests are cut down but they never get better. How can we not be sad, but that is our people. “We are lucky to be able to go to school, to be cadres, we have to try our best to help our people develop. Only by believing in and following the Party, can our Mong people get better” - Mr. Cong shared.

The rice fields have been intensively cultivated by the Mong people in Xuan village.

Responsible and determined, Mr. Cong encouraged his wife to learn how to intensively cultivate two rice crops. When he was proficient, he and the district agricultural officers guided and showed the Mong people in the village. At first, not many people were enthusiastic, but after one crop, then two, the rice fields in Mua Xuan and Xia Noi were lush and green, producing round and plump grains, and the yield increased every day, so that now, no house in the village does not have a rice field. Not only intensively cultivating two rice crops, the people have reclaimed and renovated the wasteland to grow rice, taro, pineapple, cassava... Their daily life is getting better, now no Mong family has to destroy the forest to make land for farming anymore. Then the roads were opened, the people's knowledge was improved, their thinking and ways of doing things were changed, life in the Mong villages in Son Thuy commune is changing every day.

The joy of the people of Spring village when they are able to grow rice for themselves.

Not only Thao Van Cong, from the coastal plains, to the midlands, or remote mountainous areas, I often meet diligent frontline cadres, regardless of difficulties and hardships, always striving to fulfill their duties and responsibilities, being a solid "bridge" in the close, flesh-and-blood relationship between the Party, the State and the People - just as in the directive speech of the Politburo member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front at the Congress this morning (July 14) that: "... must maintain the "flesh-and-blood" relationship between the Party, the State and the People...". They are the core to gather all classes of people, mobilize people to participate in patriotic emulation movements, build the homeland to be increasingly rich and prosperous, contributing to creating "fragrant flowers" and "sweet fruits" for a term full of many difficulties but also very proud of the Fatherland Front at all levels in the province.

A corner of Mong Xia Noi village, Son Thuy commune (Quan Son).

3. The 15th Congress of the Vietnam Fatherland Front of Thanh Hoa province took place with joy and excitement about the remarkable growth in the past journey of the Fatherland Front at all levels. Or more correctly, it is a model, a manifestation, a proof of the unceasing growth of the great national unity bloc. There are not only houses for people living on the river, but also thousands of great solidarity houses for poor households, ventilators and medical equipment and supplies worth hundreds of billions of VND and thousands of tons of necessities to join hands with the whole country to defeat the COVID-19 pandemic. These are patriotic emulation movements and campaigns that are widely participated in by all classes and components for the common goal of building the homeland and the country more beautiful every day....

Delegates attending the 15th Congress of the Vietnam Fatherland Front of Thanh Hoa province.

Implementing the Resolution of the 14th Congress of Delegates, the Fatherland Front at all levels has completed 12/12 set targets, of which 2 targets were exceeded and many outstanding results were achieved, such as: information, propaganda, mobilization, gathering, and solidarity work of all classes of people, ethnic groups, and religions went into depth, achieving clear results; mobilizing huge resources from the people worth over 2,905 billion VND to participate in building new rural areas, advanced new rural areas, model new rural areas, and socio-economic development. Activities for the poor, relief, and social security have been effectively implemented with many creative ways, mobilizing the highest resources from organizations, individuals, businesses, and the kind, humane, and benevolent hearts of the community to participate in supporting and building the Fund for the Poor, the Relief Fund, giving gifts to poor households, households in difficult circumstances and social security programs worth 1,935 billion VND, building and repairing 4,987 Great Solidarity houses...

In that growing strength, in addition to the regular and close leadership role of the Party Committee, the spirit of strong innovation in the content and methods of activities directed towards the grassroots of the Vietnam Fatherland Front at all levels, there are also the efforts of many bright examples of people working in the front, mass organizations, typical examples in society who have had a profound influence on each residential area, joining hands, contributing to the community, sharing with those in unfortunate and harsh circumstances... Not only contributing to the good performance of the functions and tasks of the organization, they also contribute to building the Vietnam Fatherland Front into a trusted address, a warm "common home", united and close-knit with kind hearts, noble gestures, spreading the spirit of patriotism, mutual love and mutual assistance in the community and society.

Congress scene.

At the congress, delegates focused on discussing, contributing many enthusiastic and responsible opinions, and agreed to build directions, goals, and tasks for the new term with many promises. These included lessons learned and solutions to promote the role of the Vietnam Fatherland Front in mobilizing ethnic minorities, village elders, village chiefs, and prestigious people to participate in protecting border lines, landmarks, and maintaining security and order on the Vietnam - Laos border by delegate Thao Thi Me, Chairwoman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Nhi Son commune (Muong Lat). Delegate Pham Thi Thu, member of the Standing Committee of the District Party Committee, Head of the Mass Mobilization Committee, Chairwoman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Ngoc Lac district, proposed solutions to promote the role of the Vietnam Fatherland Front in propagating and mobilizing people to build green fences in building bright, green, clean, beautiful, and safe residential areas. Or the sharing of Priest Tran Xuan Manh, non-professional Vice President of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, President of the Vietnam Catholic Solidarity Committee, President of the Catholic Solidarity Committee of Thanh Hoa province about the work of propaganda and mobilizing parishioners to actively participate in the movement of living a good life, good religion, building a peaceful parish, a cultural family....

In 2024, the Standing Committee of the Provincial Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee coordinated with departments and branches to advise the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee to issue Directive No. 22-CT/TU, dated March 30, 2024 on the Campaign to support housing construction for poor households, policy households, and households with housing difficulties in the province in the 2 years 2024-2025 with the goal of striving by September 30, 2025, the whole province will have at least 5,000 poor households, policy households, and households with housing difficulties supported to build and repair houses.

Behind each opinion and discussion, there are the feelings, enthusiasm and responsibility of the delegates representing the will and aspirations of the people to build and unify the "compass" for action for a new term with many challenges but extremely glorious. The most important goal is to arouse and promote the tradition, the strength of great national unity and the glorious historical, cultural and revolutionary traditions of the heroic homeland of Thanh Hoa to serve the cause of building and developing the homeland to become increasingly rich and civilized.

It is to continue to widely gather all classes of people to create a unified solidarity and use that strength to care for and look after the people's lives... As in his speech at the congress, comrade Do Trong Hung, member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Council, stated: "The Fatherland Front at all levels needs to continue to promote its core role in consolidating and strengthening the building of the great national solidarity bloc; diversify forms of gathering, mobilizing, and widely uniting all classes of people, actively mobilizing and promoting the role of dignitaries, officials, and prestigious people in religions and in the community, ensuring high consensus and unity in ideology and action, all for the goal of building an increasingly prosperous and happy homeland and country".

Delegates vote at the Congress.

Or the direction of comrade Do Van Chien, Politburo member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front: The Fatherland Front at all levels needs to continue to innovate thinking and working methods, promote the application of information technology, adapt to the digital society to propagate and mobilize the people in the direction of the whole people, comprehensively, with focus, key points, close to the reality at the grassroots level; improve the quality and effectiveness of campaigns and patriotic emulation movements, with the motto: "think honestly, speak honestly, do honestly, get real results and the people benefit truly"...

Delegates attending the congress.

The most important and closest thing when the homeland and country are increasingly prosperous is the prosperous and happy life of the People. And, the 15th Congress of the Vietnam Fatherland Front of Thanh Hoa province with the motto of Solidarity - Democracy - Innovation - Development will continue to raise high the flag of solidarity and gathering that the Party, State and People have entrusted to constantly care for the people's lives so that the people are the subject, the center of all policies and strategies, also to build the homeland and country on the journey of innovation, integration and development.

With the spirit of "Solidarity, democracy, innovation, development", the Congress democratically elected 120/125 members, with appropriate number, composition, and structure, clearly demonstrating representativeness, typicality, and the ability to take responsibility and concretize the implementation of the important responsibilities of the Vietnam Fatherland Front of the province in the new term.

At the first meeting, the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Thanh Hoa province, term XV, 2024 - 2029, democratically elected a Standing Committee of 9 members. Comrade Pham Thi Thanh Thuy, member of the Standing Committee, Head of the Provincial Party Committee's Mass Mobilization Commission, continued to be re-elected as Chairwoman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Thanh Hoa province.

Do Duc

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/giuong-cao-ngon-co-doan-ket-tap-hop-de-cham-lo-cho-cuoc-song-nhan-dan-219506.htm