Igniting the aspirations of Tra Bong

(CPV) – With a spirit of innovation, proactiveness, and creativity, the Party Committee and people of the mountainous district of Tra Bong have joined forces and strived to achieve new successes. Notably, the appearance of this western region of Quang Ngai province, with its diverse landscapes, has created a strong foundation, accelerating progress towards achieving the goals of the term and laying the groundwork for higher-level tasks.

Leaders of Tra Bong district went to each house to encourage the Cor ethnic minority people to build a new life.

A hallmark of innovative leadership methods.

The policy of reforming leadership methods as a goal and driving force for development has become a consistent and overarching principle in the leadership and guidance of the political system in Tra Bong district over the past period.

The proactive spirit, adherence to reality, and leadership through guidelines, resolutions, and directives are the fundamental methods of the Party's leadership over the political system. Therefore, the District Party Committee focuses on improving the issuance of resolutions, directives, conclusions, and announcements... in a concise, focused, and relevant manner; gradually overcoming the situation of issuing many documents, or overlapping and difficult-to-implement documents.

Comrade Nguyen Van Dung, Provincial Party Committee member and Secretary of the Tra Bong District Party Committee, shared that recognizing the human factor – cadres – as the decisive element, the District Party Committee has reformed its leadership methods through organizational and personnel work. The requirement is for the cadre team to have a reasonable number and structure, possess strong political acumen, have the necessary qualifications, qualities, and capabilities, and demonstrate a determination to innovate, be creative, and have a passion and a desire to contribute. From there, the planning, training, and appointment of cadres are carried out in accordance with the correct policies and procedures, ensuring democracy, transparency, and a "flexible" and "dynamic" approach. At the same time, the Party Committee clearly demonstrates its role and responsibility in personnel work, streamlining the organization and apparatus, reducing staffing levels, and especially seriously implementing Party inspection, supervision, and discipline, building Party organizations, and developing Party members.

The Party Committee of Tra Bong district has issued regulations on the exemplary conduct of cadres and Party members; and regulations on direct dialogue between the heads of Party committees and governments at all levels with the people. Ms. Ho Thi Van, Member of the Standing Committee of the District Party Committee and Chairwoman of the District Fatherland Front Committee, stated that these regulations have contributed to promoting the role, responsibility, and exemplary conduct of cadres and Party members, preserving their moral character and lifestyle, building and strengthening unity within the Party committee, fostering social consensus, and deepening the close relationship between the Party and the people, embodying the motto: "The Party speaks, the people believe; the Fatherland Front and mass organizations mobilize the people to follow; the government acts, the people support."

The consistent and overarching viewpoint in discussions and decisions regarding policies and guidelines is to promote the people's right to self-governance, to put the people first and foremost, and to prioritize their interests and aspirations above all else.

Recognizing that close contact with the people is an effective channel for understanding, listening to, and directing the resolution of difficulties and obstacles at the grassroots level, the members of the Executive Committee and Standing Committee proactively developed plans and strictly implemented the system of being close to the local area, attending Party branch meetings at the village level. Going to the grassroots and attending Party branch meetings in residential areas is both a task and a solution to innovate leadership methods, helping Party committees to fully and promptly grasp the situation at each village level, thereby enabling leadership and management that is appropriate to the reality.

"Through these actions, the leadership methods and working styles of Party committees at all levels have been reformed towards being closer to the grassroots, grasping information thoroughly, discussing openly and democratically; clearly defining plans, tasks, and objectives; and strengthening supervision and inspection in leadership and management," expressed Le Anh Chien, Secretary of the Party Committee of Tra Thuy commune.

The most striking aspect of the recent innovation in leadership methods within the Tra Bong District Party Committee is that policies, resolutions, and documents are developed in a democratic spirit, incorporating feedback and critiques from specialized agencies, and based on practical surveys from Party organizations, Party members, and the people. They clearly assess the situation, predict the effectiveness of implementation, and use specific, concise, and clear language, offering feasible solutions before being submitted to the Party committee for decision.

When resolutions and directives are issued, members of the Standing Committee and district Party committee members are responsible for disseminating, directing, monitoring, inspecting, and urging implementation, as well as conducting preliminary and final reviews. Simultaneously, the dissemination and promotion of Party resolutions are intensified by the District Party Committee's Propaganda Department and the Culture and Information Department through the radio, Zalo, Facebook, etc., following the motto "earliest, fastest, and most widespread." As a result, many important resolutions, programs, and projects on socio-economic development have been implemented, yielding clear results; tasks and solutions have been led and directed smoothly, synchronously, and flexibly.

^{Secretary of the Tra Bong District Party Committee Nguyen Van Dung (top left) inspects the progress of new rural construction.}

Achievements stem from determination, unity, and dedication.

Thanks to innovative leadership methods, policy planning, solution identification, and the selection of appropriate directions, the landscape in the Tra Bong highlands has undergone quite comprehensive changes and made steady progress in recent times.

According to Tran Hoang Vinh, Deputy Secretary of the District Party Committee and Chairman of the District People's Committee, in 2024, the Party Committee, government, and people of all ethnic groups in Tra Bong district made efforts to achieve and surpass most of the socio-economic targets set. The total value of production reached approximately 2,686,814 million VND, achieving 101.4% of the plan and increasing by 10.3% compared to 2023. Total state budget revenue reached 1,452 billion VND, equivalent to 229% of the annual budget estimate and 116% of the budget estimate assigned by the Provincial People's Committee. Two more communes achieved the new rural development goals, bringing the total number of new rural communes to four; the average number of criteria met per commune is estimated to reach 14.6 by the end of 2024, an increase of 2 criteria per commune.

According to Nguyen Thanh Tuan, Head of the Economic and Infrastructure Department, the national power grid has now reached 100% of communes, with 99% of households having access to electricity; 100% of roads from the district to the commune centers have been asphalted; and 92.4% of roads from communes to hamlets have been concreted according to new rural standards. The irrigation system provides stable water supply for over 82% of the rice paddy area. As a result, the poverty rate among ethnic minorities in Tra Bong has decreased to about 20% according to the new standard, with an average reduction of 4 to 5% per year. This is considered a remarkable achievement in recent times.

Tra Bong is considered the land of cinnamon trees. For generations, the Cor ethnic people have cultivated many crops, but cinnamon remains their main crop and one of their primary sources of income. The entire district currently has 5,240 hectares of cinnamon. Cinnamon is grown in home gardens, on high hillsides, along mountain slopes, rivers, and streams… During the harvest season, the fragrant aroma of cinnamon fills the air, carried far by the wind… Furthermore, along with gongs, jars, and copper pots, cinnamon is also considered a standard for judging the wealth and poverty of Cor families.

Despite the current instability in prices and output, the people of Tra Bong remain determined to "stick" with cinnamon cultivation, investing in expanding their planted area. Every Cor family grows cinnamon, with at least a few hundred trees in their garden, and some families even cultivate thousands. Mr. Ho Van Sinh from Tra Thuy commune said: "Previously, cinnamon cultivation was not profitable because farming was only done spontaneously. Recently, implementing the policy of increasing the value of cinnamon, many families have invested in and cared for their cinnamon gardens using intensive farming methods to increase productivity. As a result, many households have not only escaped poverty but have also become wealthy right on their homeland."

Besides cinnamon, which is the main crop, ginger and tea continue to be cultivated in the communes of Son Tra, Huong Tra, and Tra Tay. The development of several endemic medicinal plants such as Panax notoginseng, seven-leaf ginseng, lemongrass, Panax pseudoginseng, Codonopsis pilosula, Angelica sinensis, and Cynanchum stauntonii is also being promoted. The Quang Ngai Provincial People's Committee has permitted the use of the place name "Tra Bong" and confirmed the map delineating the production area for the registered certification mark for "Ginger Se" product. Notably, Tra Bong cinnamon has been granted a geographical indication registration certificate by the Intellectual Property Office (Ministry of Science and Technology).

The steps and methods in the process of innovation and integration have become clear. Accordingly, the Party Committee of Tra Bong district not only focuses on economic growth but also emphasizes building a compassionate and benevolent society in every policy and every fundamental, scientific solution. Social welfare work is always prioritized, and mutual support and solidarity movements continue to be widely and effectively launched.

In the process of building and developing, taking innovation in leadership methods as the driving force for development has become a consistent and continuous trend in the cinnamon-growing region of Tra Bong. The exemplary conduct of the Party committee leaders, with their motto "don't complain about difficulties, just discuss and get to work," has spread, attracting and "pulling" the entire political system into the effort for a bright future…

Each resolution is a policy closely aligned with practical requirements, quickly adapting to real life and mobilizing resources for implementation. The steps and methods, coupled with the vision of a team of officials who are proactive and concerned for the people, have brought about synchronized and steady progress for Tra Bong.

^{The Party Committee of Tra Bong district always pays close attention to caring for influential figures among ethnic minority communities.}

Unlocking potential and resources to promote socio-economic growth.

District Party Secretary Nguyen Van Dung affirmed: “The district Party Committee has set the goal of striving to make the western region of Quang Ngai province worthy of the homeland of the Tra Bong uprising. Focusing on development, unlocking all resources and potential, leading ethnic minorities out of poverty and into prosperity; and guiding this revolutionary homeland, with over 70% of its population being the Cor ethnic group, to make steady and comprehensive progress.”

According to the District Party Secretary, in the coming period, the district will have many new policies, focusing on attracting investment; paying attention to developing rural infrastructure, and building Tra Xuan town into a type IV urban area. The leadership will focus on key areas in implementing the three thematic resolutions of the District Party Committee, namely: Developing products from medicinal herbs, Preserving culture, and Urban development.

“Tra Bong continues to promote the assignment, decentralization, and delegation of authority to officials, localities, and units, linking it with the responsibility of the head of each organization. Focus on effectively implementing the breakthrough in setting a good example. Officials and civil servants must be ready to accept and successfully complete assigned tasks, especially in the upcoming restructuring and streamlining of the apparatus; they should not be selective about their positions, choosing easy tasks and avoiding difficult ones; they must be dedicated, conscientious, and exemplary in fulfilling their assigned responsibilities and duties,” the District Party Secretary expressed.

In the final days of 2024, we traveled a long distance to Tra Lanh commune, now incorporated into Huong Tra commune, located south of Eo Chim mountain – a historical site associated with the Tra Bong uprising. Under an old cinnamon tree, village elder Ho Van Bon, former commune militia leader during the anti-American war, clasped our hands tightly, his voice filled with mixed emotions: “The Cor people of our homeland have changed so much. The officials are close to the people, caring for their needs, and we are very happy…”

In his newly built small house, he respectfully placed a picture of President Ho Chi Minh on the altar, then carefully wiped away the dust with a cloth, gently placed it back on top of the cabinet, and sincerely lit three incense sticks. He always believed that the Cor people of his homeland were truly proud to bear the surname of President Ho Chi Minh – the beloved leader to whom the Cor people felt both honored and grateful from the depths of their hearts.

In the flow of time, the indomitable spirit of Tra Bong over the past 65 years, embodied in the tradition of unity and unwavering faith in the Party and President Ho Chi Minh, has continued to write the glorious history of previous generations, creating a vibrant link between the past and the present; and fostering confidence in a creative and innovative Tra Bong.

Leaving the cinnamon-growing land of Tra Bong, we were haunted by the image of lush, vibrant green shoots of acacia, cinnamon, tea, and fruit trees stretching across the mountains and forests of western Quang Ngai. The remote villages in the highlands, once ravaged by bombs and bullets on the peak of Ca Dam, are transforming day by day.

The conversation about the future and prospects of Tra Bong dragged on into the late afternoon… Secretary Nguyen Van Dung clasped our hands tightly as a promise, a testament to the belief and aspiration that a better life would soon come to the people of the ethnic groups in this beloved cinnamon-growing region.

Source: https://dangcongsan.vn/xay-dung-dang/khoi-len-khat-vong-tra-bong-687326.html