Village and residential group leaders: 'Extended arms' at the grassroots level

October, along with the historic floods, caused many localities in Thai Nguyen to be deeply submerged. During the rainy and flood days, the neighborhood leaders and hamlet chiefs were the ones who reminded people to move in time to protect their lives and property when the water rose, and helped people overcome the consequences when the flood receded... They were the "extended arms" of the local government.

Mr. Duong Dinh Hong, Head of Quang Trung hamlet, Phu Binh commune, asked for rice to help people.

Mission from the heart

Dong Bam residential group, Linh Son ward has 320 households, in the historic flood 90% of households were flooded from 1-3m. After half a month of receding water, Ms. Nguyen Thi Sau, Party Cell Secretary, Head of Dong Bam residential group took the opportunity to invite severely damaged households to receive gifts from benefactors and mobilize people to clean up the group's cultural house.

Before that, when the water rose, Mrs. Nguyen Thi Sau had traveled to each area in the group to inform and grasp the situation of the people. When the flood was too deep, she left her house submerged in water, brought a small boat, and together with the village's union cadres went to rescue the people and support volunteer groups to bring free meals to isolated houses. Because she believed that in deep water areas, she was the one who knew the area best, so she could guide the rescue teams to help the people effectively.

After nearly a month, from the gate of Xuan Phuong carpentry village to Quang Trung hamlet, Phu Binh commune, there are still traces of the flood. Rice has fallen in patches, and where it hasn’t fallen, the ears are still heavy and black from being soaked in water. People look at the rice and feel sorry, the rice has been ruined and they will have to go clean the fields to prepare for the next crop.

Mr. Duong Dinh Hong, Head of Quang Trung Hamlet, said: The rice in the fields was flooded, and the rice of many households kept in their houses was also flooded. The first thing we did was worry about people going hungry, so when I learned that there was a source of 30 tons of rice from a sponsor sent to Thai Nguyen , I asked to contact people in the hamlet to ask for help. Knowing that many places also needed rice, I only asked to receive more than 1 ton, and the rest was for other places.

More specifically, Mr. Tran Van Duong, Head of Tan Thanh 1 residential group, Linh Son ward, and a few people in the neighborhood rowed a boat across the whirlpool to Hang pagoda roundabout to receive 100 relief meals, to share with the people. The clip of Mr. Duong sharing his worries about hunger and asking for rice went viral on Tikok right after the flood receded. That sincere sharing touched many hearts, so he received support from many benefactors. On behalf of the people, he also asked to receive just enough to help everyone get through the difficult time.

"Keep the fire" in people's hearts

Residents of Tan Thanh 1 residential group (Linh Son ward) receive relief gifts

The hamlet and street leaders are the ones who understand the people best, who know who is lonely, who is poor, who needs help when natural disasters occur. What makes the “prisoners and village heads” able to “keep the fire burning and pass it on” is the bond of village love, neighborhood spirit, and the spirit of serving the people.

Mr. Pham Duc Giang, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of the People's Committee of Linh Son Ward, shared his admiration: The team of leaders of the hamlets and residential groups have shared hardships with the people to overcome and overcome the storm and flood in the most effective way possible. Helping people quickly stabilize their lives, hearing the news of the flood in the Central region, they are ready to share by organizing trucks to transport goods to support the Central region.

After the flood, the group leaders and hamlet chiefs continued to organize clean-up; check the list of damaged households; mobilize help for disadvantaged households. These tasks were not simple...

The neighborhood chief and hamlet chief are the focal points in all situations, especially when natural disasters occur. They receive instructions from the ward and commune; notify each household; and coordinate with forces to respond.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Mai, Head of the Department of Culture and Society of Phan Dinh Phung Ward, commented: Without this grassroots force, disaster response work would be very difficult to implement effectively. Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Thuy, Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairwoman of the People's Council of Van Lang Commune, affirmed: The leaders of hamlets and residential groups in the area are very proactive and responsible in their roles, they are the "extended arms" of the local government during and after storms and floods...

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/xa-hoi/202511/lanh-dao-xom-to-dan-pho-canh-tay-noi-dai-o-co-so-9ee33d8/