Contacting voters is closely linked to mass mobilization work.

HNN - In 1978, I was a District Party Committee member and Chief of the District Party Committee Office of Huong Phu District, assigned to directly serve as the Party Secretary of Thuy Phuong commune and elected to the People's Council of Thuy Phuong commune (now part of Thanh Thuy ward, Hue City). The plan set forth by the commune's Party Committee and government for the term was to continue building on the achievements of the previous period in developing infrastructure ("electricity, roads, schools, and health stations"), prioritizing the plan to build irrigation canals connecting to Chau Son lake and improving the fields.

Residents of Phu Loc commune participate in planting trees along the model flag and flower-lined road project launched by the commune. Photo: Ngoc Hieu

Take the results and replicate them.

We decided to implement three major projects: Mobilizing the relocation of scattered graves within residential areas to stabilize cemeteries and free up approximately 30 hectares for expanding crop cultivation; constructing main roads running north-south and east-west connecting the rice fields to the Loi Nong River; and building a wired broadcasting station with 1,000 loudspeakers, funded by the City of Hanoi .

We determined that these projects required significant investment of effort and intellect due to their large capital scale, simultaneous implementation, and impact on the spiritual life and lifestyle of the community, all while the socio -economic circumstances of the early post-liberation period were extremely challenging.

The entire political system of the commune, with elected representatives playing a core role, has been involved in mobilizing voters and the people to support the policies and solutions outlined for each project; combining thematic and localized public meetings with targeted outreach to key groups; paying particular attention to clan leaders, religious dignitaries, and influential figures in society.

Regarding the campaign to relocate the graves, we made numerous attempts to persuade the head of the Le clan, explaining that their clan had nearly 200 graves to relocate – the highest and most complex case in the entire commune. At the last minute, the Le clan head expressed his agreement with the commune's plan, helping us turn around a seemingly insurmountable situation.

Regarding the project to build the main roads, after initial success in mobilizing the people to donate tens of thousands of square meters of land, we finally resolved the last obstacle: the consent of the head of the village temple's management board to straighten the main road section running through the lake in front of the temple, creating a smoother flow of traffic through the commune.

For the pilot project to build the first radio station in Thua Thien Hue with 1,000 loudspeakers funded by Hanoi City, we took a different approach, focusing on replicating successful results.

The first step was to highlight the exemplary leadership of over 60 party members in the party committee; assigning key personnel the task of effectively mobilizing a number of well-off families to be included in the initial phase of implementation. As a result, 150 loudspeakers were installed, and the commune's broadcasting station was put into operation. Information on the Party and State's guidelines and policies; local action programs; and especially weather information and guidance on flood and storm prevention... were disseminated promptly through the commune's broadcasting program, relaying broadcasts from the district station, provincial and central radio and television stations. The practical benefits of the commune's broadcasting station through the loudspeakers spurred a vigorous expansion of the public address system, ensuring quality and exceeding planned targets.

Enhancing the role of elected representatives

Another memorable aspect of voter outreach activities was participating in identifying policy issues revealed through key events.

In 1985, Typhoon No. 8, with its devastating intensity, struck the Binh Tri Thien region, killing over 1,000 people (including 880 in Thua Thien Hue) and destroying tens of thousands of houses, fields, and properties that people had only recently accumulated after the war.

The entire political system of the province, including us, the key officials of Huong Phu district, worked tirelessly throughout the process of implementing measures to prevent and mitigate the consequences of the terrible natural disaster; the main focus was guiding the households living in floating houses along the Tam Giang lagoon and Cau Hai lagoon to quickly find safe shelters.

The storm raged throughout the night. At dawn the next day, from the An Luu mechanical factory, we split up and headed to the Tan My - Thuan An area; one group waded out to the banks of the Luong Vien and Vien Trinh lagoons and was deeply moved by the immense losses of life and property suffered by the people.

Following the provincial directive, numerous public meetings and voter outreach events were subsequently organized by district leaders, including Huong Phu district, to discuss plans for addressing the consequences of the natural disaster.

Thanks to the contact between elected representatives and voters, combined with the mass mobilization work of Party and government agencies and the Fatherland Front, we have been able to specifically grasp the extent of damage in each area; the unique characteristics of the economic and cultural life of each village community; their essential needs regarding housing, and policies to support the restoration of production and livelihoods…

Based on that, the Binh Tri Thien Provincial Party Committee issued a thematic resolution, focusing on implementing the resettlement program for people living in floating villages in the province.

The Provincial Party Committee's resolution has been concretized into resolutions of the Provincial People's Council and decisions of the Provincial People's Committee, and effectively implemented by all levels and sectors in the province. Dozens of new resettlement areas have sprung up on both banks of the Perfume River and along the Tam Giang - Cau Hai lagoon, in relatively safe locations where the boat-dwelling households can build sturdy houses, facilitating the restoration of production and access to public services.

The resources for implementing resettlement projects are mainly allocated from public land, local budgets, donations from philanthropists, and partly from the contributions of individual households. To date, the resettlement areas have become increasingly stable, truly transforming the lives of more than 30,000 people who were previously frequently threatened by natural disasters...

Nguyen Van Me

Source: https://huengaynay.vn/chinh-polit-xa-hoi/lien-he-cu-tri-gan-lien-voi-cong-tac-dan-van-161711.html