Muong Lat Rises: A Journey of Change from Resolution 11-NQ/TU (Part 3) - Untangling Obstacles, Unlocking Internal Strengths, and Achieving Sustainable Poverty Alleviation

(Baothanhhoa.vn) - After more than two years of implementing Resolution 11-NQ/TU, the appearance of the border district of Muong Lat has undergone many positive changes. However, to achieve the goal of poverty alleviation by 2030, the locality still needs to remove many "bottlenecks" in infrastructure investment, change production mindsets, and promote investment attraction. Synchronized solutions are being gradually implemented, opening up prospects for sustainable development for this still challenging region.

The sturdy roofs of houses in the Na On resettlement area, Trung Ly commune.

Solving the "finding a place to live" problem

As a border district, Muong Lat has a predominantly mountainous and hilly terrain, heavily fragmented, and frequently affected by natural disasters such as flash floods, landslides, and mudslides. During the "great flood" of 2018, hundreds of houses were swept away, schools were buried, and roads were severely damaged. Thanks to the attention of the Party and the State, new resettlement areas have been built, helping people move to new homes with guaranteed infrastructure including electricity, water, and safety.

According to the review and assessment in Decision No. 4845/QD-UBND of the Provincial People's Committee, Muong Lat district has more than 700 households located in areas at high risk of being affected by natural disasters that need to be relocated. In addition, according to Directive No. 22-CT/TU of the Provincial Party Committee, Muong Lat district has nearly 900 households in need of housing support.

To solve the housing problem, the district faces many difficulties. For example, 11 resettlement projects currently underway or about to be implemented are facing numerous obstacles due to the fragmented terrain, leading to high investment costs, while the support level from the province is still low (300 million VND/household for concentrated resettlement areas and 150 million VND/household for adjacent resettlement areas). Most projects exceed the total investment budget during the design phase. In some cases, the total investment budget is insufficient to even complete the land leveling work.

Faced with these difficulties, the Provincial People's Committee issued Decision No. 511/QD-UBND on adjusting Project 4845, which includes additional support for land clearance costs, contributing to overcoming capital difficulties for the projects. In addition, Muong Lat district has flexibly integrated various funding sources from national and local target programs to thoroughly address the "housing" issue.

Mr. Lo Van Dong, Chairman of the Fatherland Front Committee of Muong Lat district, said: "Along with the housing support programs that have been and are being implemented, the implementation of Directive 22 is considered a comprehensive solution to help the border district eliminate temporary and dilapidated houses. To date, under Directive 22 alone, Muong Lat district has completed 683 out of 797 houses."

Settling down is not simply about moving or building new houses; more profoundly, it's a process of changing the lifestyle and production habits of the people in mountainous areas. Resettlement areas like Poong village, Na Chua village, and Qua village have become "shining examples" where people no longer practice nomadic farming, but are gradually adopting a settled lifestyle, actively engaging in business, and investing for the future.

The role of the people as the main actors is becoming increasingly evident. A typical example is the household of Mr. Vi Van Du, in Poong village, Tam Chung commune. Previously, his family lived in a makeshift house by the stream, often isolated during the rainy season and floods. After receiving support to build a new house, he boldly invested in breeding cattle and planting trees. Thanks to his hard work, Mr. Du's household has escaped poverty sustainably. This change is not only happening in individual households but is also spreading throughout the community.

Transform potential into advantage.

While resettlement helps people stabilize their lives, improving production conditions and developing the economy are key factors in helping them escape poverty sustainably. Therefore, in addition to building infrastructure and providing housing, exploiting land potential and promoting investment attraction becomes crucial for improving the quality of life and developing the local economy.

Besides agricultural development, tourism is considered a potential sector that the district is focusing on investing in and exploiting. With over 100 km of border, possessing many scenic spots such as Heaven's Gate, Sai Khao village, the memorial monument to the Western Advance Army, the Tu Ma Hai Dao temple, along with the unique cultural identity of various ethnic groups, the district is developing three main groups of tourism products: community tourism; cultural, historical, and spiritual tourism; and eco-tourism and adventure tourism.

The highlight of tourism in Muong Lat district is its beautiful terraced rice fields (photo taken in Quang Chieu commune).

Alongside this, industry and small-scale handicrafts are important sectors for promoting growth and creating jobs. Currently, the district has mineral mines associated with stone and non-fired brick processing plants of Hung Loc Trading and Construction Co., Ltd. and Chung Nguyen Investment Joint Stock Company. The district is coordinating with Phuc Thinh Agricultural and Forestry Products Processing and Agricultural Supplies Joint Stock Company to complete the project of building a cassava starch processing plant in Muong Ly commune. Restoring and developing traditional crafts such as brocade weaving, basket weaving, rice wine brewing, and blacksmithing of the Mong ethnic group is also being given attention.

Chairman of the People's Committee of Muong Lat District, Trinh Van The, emphasized: After more than two years since Resolution 11-NQ/TU, the appearance of Muong Lat district has undergone many positive changes. In 2024, the district will have one commune achieving the New Rural Area standard; a hydropower project worth 450 billion VND will be started; and a cassava processing plant with a total investment of 250 billion VND is completing investment procedures, guaranteeing product sales, and creating jobs for the people. In education, there has been significant progress with the commencement of construction on 18 new schools. Transportation infrastructure has been invested in comprehensively, allowing cars to reach most villages.

Currently, 28 projects under Resolution 11-NQ/TU are being implemented in the district, including 22 education projects, 3 transportation projects, 2 agricultural projects, and 1 water supply project. Of these, 15 projects have commenced (2 completed, 13 under construction), 2 are preparing for commencement, 1 is in the bidding process, 4 are in the design and survey phase, and 6 are in the investment preparation phase. The 22 education projects alone have been allocated 200 billion VND, with approximately 80 billion VND already disbursed; it is projected that 120 billion VND will be disbursed by June 30, 2025.

“It can be said that, from a ‘poverty-stricken area’ with rugged terrain and outdated farming practices, Muong Lat is gradually changing its appearance after more than two years of implementing Resolution 11-NQ/TU. The changes are not only evident in the peach and plum orchards on the Nhi Son hilltop; the fertile cassava fields in Muong Ly; Muong Chanh commune achieving New Rural Area standards; or the modern infrastructure projects - but also in the mindset and awareness of the people. Although many difficulties remain, with the decisive involvement of the entire political system, the support of businesses, and the self-reliance and self-improvement spirit of the people, Muong Lat is gradually asserting its new position, no longer being the ‘poorest district in the province’,” shared the Chairman of the People's Committee of Muong Lat district.

Leaving Muong Lat, we returned down the winding mountain road. In that place of towering mountains, Muong Lat is no longer an isolated, backward land, but is gradually integrating with the overall development of the province. And perhaps, the change in the people's belief and aspiration for progress is the greatest achievement that Resolution 11-NQ/TU has brought about after more than two years of implementation – an invaluable achievement that cannot be measured in numbers.

Text and photos: Dinh Giang

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/muong-lat-vuon-minh-hanh-trinh-thay-doi-tu-nghi-quyet-11-nq-tu-bai-3-go-nut-that-khoi-thong-noi-luc-but-pha-thoat-ngheo-ben-vung-247531.htm