New day on the upper Da River

Thu Lum border commune after merger will open up new opportunities in the development journey.

This is not simply an adjustment of administrative boundaries but also a transformation in thinking, organization and development of local authorities in the upper Da River.

According to the merger decision, the new Thu Lum commune was established on the basis of the entire area and population of the two old communes: 138.64 km² and 2,610 people from Ka Lang commune, along with 112.91 km² and 2,645 people from the old Thu Lum commune. After the merger, the new commune has an area of 251.55 km², a population of more than 5,200 people, including 17 villages, of which more than 90% are Ha Nhi ethnic people, the rest are La Hu and Dao ethnic people living together.

The merger initially made people, especially in the old Thu Lum commune, worried. One of the reasons was that the new commune center would be located in Ka Lang commune - more than 30 km from the old commune center. Mr. Chu Ca Che, Lo Na village shared: “At first, we were very worried. Children had to go to school further away, the elderly had difficulty going to the doctor, and we didn’t know how to handle administrative paperwork when the commune moved so far away.”

The concerns are real, because for the people in the highlands, each trip out of the village is a difficult journey. The only road connecting the two communes is often eroded during the rainy season, making travel even more difficult. However, to dispel that mentality, the Party Committee and local authorities have focused on propaganda and detailed explanations. In addition to the cadres, village elders, village chiefs, and prestigious people in the community have also been invited to attend meetings and directly discuss with the people to fully inform them about the benefits of the merger.

Sincere and realistic conversations have gradually changed public awareness. This helps people understand that with a streamlined administrative apparatus, public services will be more convenient, support policies will be more focused and implemented more effectively. New roads, solid schools, medical and administrative services closer to the people will be in the near future, when investment resources are concentrated in one place.

In fact, Thu Lum commune is a locality with many difficulties, located nearly 230 km from the provincial center. The economic scale is small; budget revenue and per capita income are low; the poverty rate is still high, and 8/19 new rural criteria have not been completed. However, the merger will open up new opportunities for this land. The government apparatus is streamlined and quality is improved. The local development potential is also very large with a forest cover of more than 81%, rich medicinal resources under the forest canopy, unique ethnic cultural identity and a strategic position in protecting the water source of the Da River.

Comrade Nguyen Truong Giang, Party Secretary and Chairman of Thu Lum Commune People's Council, said: "After the merger, although there were still difficulties in accommodation and working places for officials, we quickly overcame them so that the government apparatus could operate smoothly. The goal is to build a strong Party organization and political system, enhance the role and responsibility of a team of capable and qualified officials to meet development requirements."

The development vision of Thu Lum commune government does not stop at stabilizing the apparatus, but aims at sustainable development based on exploiting internal resources. The strategic pillars are clearly defined: Forest development associated with medicinal plant cultivation; preserving and promoting national culture; maintaining border sovereignty and improving people's lives.

From the consensus of the people, Thu Lum commune has set specific goals: By 2030, the average income per capita will reach more than 42 million VND, reducing the poverty rate by an average of 6% per year; all internal roads will be paved; 16/19 new rural criteria will be completed; the quality of education, health care, culture and essential infrastructure will be improved. Comrade Nguyen Truong Giang said: “The merger is just the beginning. More importantly, it is to arouse the will to rise up from each person, especially the La Hu community. When the people are in favor, all policies will be easily implemented.”

The transformation of Thu Lum today is not only a change in administrative boundaries, but also a comprehensive transformation in thinking, organization and development. From a quiet land in the upper reaches of the Da River, Thu Lum commune is gradually joining the common development aspirations of the whole province, affirming its new position in the journey to move forward.

Article and photos: TUAN HUNG

Source: https://nhandan.vn/ngay-moi-tren-vung-dat-thuong-nguon-song-da-post896537.html