MEASUREMENT FROM THE PEOPLE'S HEARTS - Part 2: Methodical steps

Starting to implement the policy of building new rural areas, although it was assessed to have a rather low starting point, Tien Giang has so far achieved many successes thanks to methodical and fundamental steps.

Lesson 1: The First Steps

Tien Giang 's new rural construction has gone through many stages. At each stage, Tien Giang clearly defines the destination and makes constant efforts to complete the set goals.

DETERMINING GOALS

Looking back at the journey of building the new rural area, Tien Giang has basically gone through 3 stages, which are 2011 - 2015, 2015 - 2020 and 2020 - 2025. In each stage, Tien Giang always clearly defines different goals and the destination is 2025 when Tien Giang is recognized by the Government as having completed the task of building the new rural area. Of course, in each stage, Tien Giang has to adjust the plan many times to adapt to each stage and be consistent with the new set of criteria.

The rural appearance of Tien Giang is changing day by day. Photo: MINH THANH

After much effort, up to now, all the goals set by Tien Giang on building new rural areas have been basically achieved. This is the result of the tireless efforts of all levels, sectors, localities and the joint efforts and consensus of the people.

Although going through many different stages, there is a common point, according to the Office of the National Target Program Coordination on New Rural Construction in Tien Giang province, right from the beginning, Tien Giang has always determined the common goal of building a new rural area with the aim of Tien Giang having a synchronous and modern socio -economic infrastructure, suitable for the urbanization process, aiming to build an advanced new rural area, a model new rural area.

At the same time, build a civilized, spacious, clean and beautiful countryside, adapt to climate change and develop sustainably; develop comprehensively health and education; improve people's material and spiritual life, promote gender equality.

In addition, it is necessary to create a rural society that is united, democratic, equal, stable, and rich in traditional cultural identity; the ecological environment is protected; national defense, security, and rural order are ensured.

Not stopping there, according to the Office of the National Target Program Coordination for New Rural Construction in Tien Giang province, one of the key goals in the new rural construction of Tien Giang is to focus on developing agricultural and rural economy associated with restructuring the agricultural sector, developing rural economy associated with digital economy, increasing people's income; linking agricultural production development with service development, tourism, preserving and developing craft villages; improving the quality of environmental protection, the quality of cultural activities and promoting traditional cultural values; planning and developing production areas, especially coastal economic zones; effectively implementing the One Commune One Product (OCOP) Program...

From another perspective, Tien Giang also determined that there is no “deviation” in the process of building the new rural area. Because if we focus too much on building material things, it is not good. Therefore, building a rural community that knows how to manage itself comprehensively is the direction that needs to be focused on.

Because reality shows that, at present, we have only stopped at a rural community that is self-governing in terms of security and order; to develop further, rural communities must be self-governing in terms of economy, environmental management and social management.

Thus, the new rural community is strong enough to resist the intrusion of social evils. And thus, it can keep the countryside truly a place to preserve and promote the good traditions of the nation.

Another special thing that the province focuses on is the need to have a measure of people's satisfaction with the communes that have built new rural areas... This is really meaningful; because the ultimate goal of building new rural areas is to improve the material and spiritual life of the people and building new rural areas must be based on a solid and sustainable foundation, which is the benefit of the people.

SELECT DESTINATION

One thing that cannot be disputed is that thanks to the policy of building new rural areas, up to now, many works and projects have been and are being implemented, the appearance of the countryside has changed a lot... Not to mention that building new rural areas is also associated with production development, restructuring the agricultural sector, shifting the rural economic structure, increasing people's income; poverty reduction and social security; developing rural education; environmental sanitation... have also been and are being implemented synchronously. From this major policy, the face of the countryside has changed significantly.

Sharing with us recently from a local perspective about the recently implemented new rural construction policy, Mr. Le Minh Duc (Cong Lac Hamlet, Binh Dong Commune, Go Cong City) said that for decades, this land has been muddy with roads, motorbikes can be counted on the fingers, there are no bicycles, one rice crop only yields about 3 tons/ton, in some areas banana trees cannot even survive.

After the liberation of the South, people in the area continued to suffer from crop failures and life was still difficult. In 1997, after implementing the policy of sweetening, this land began to move, traditional occupations were opened, and people's lives were greatly improved.

From an average income per capita of about 3.5 million VND per year in 1993, it has now increased to more than 50 million VND. Currently, in the commune, there are no more bamboo and thatched houses, mainly 3-storey houses. "One special thing is that since the State implemented the policy of building new rural areas, the roads have been invested in to be more open and modern. The land at the end of the freshwater source area has now changed completely" - Mr. Le Minh Duc emphasized.

Overall, income improvement is one of the important measures when implementing the policy of building new rural areas in Tien Giang. According to the assessment of the Office of Coordination of the National Target Program on building new rural areas in Tien Giang province, in recent years, the Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial People's Committee have paid great attention and given specific instructions through many plans, programs and projects to develop production to increase income for people in rural areas.

This is the decisive factor for sustainable and long-term development and also the political task of the locality in building the new rural areas. Therefore, Party committees and authorities at all levels from the province to the district and commune levels have focused on leading, directing and proposing solutions to mobilize maximum resources to develop agricultural production, aquaculture, small-scale industry, trade, services, rural industries, etc.

to create jobs and increase income for rural people. The construction of production models associated with the transformation of crop and livestock structures contributes to increasing productivity and quality of agricultural products associated with planning concentrated production areas of key commodities such as: clean vegetables, safe vegetables... combined with raising cows, pigs, goats; developing aquaculture in the direction of semi-intensive and intensive farming.

In addition, the communes also create conditions for people of working age to participate in working in enterprises in the fields of industry, construction, services, and tourism. Thanks to that, by the end of 2024, all communes will meet the Income criteria according to the regulations of the National Criteria for New Rural Communes in the period of 2021 - 2025 and reach an average income of 72.4 million VND/person/year.

In parallel, in recent years, Tien Giang province has made great efforts in poverty reduction and improving people's lives. Since 2011, the province has implemented many support programs and policies to improve living conditions and create job opportunities for people, especially in rural areas.

As a result, by the end of 2024, the province's poverty rate will be only 0.79%, down 8.84% compared to 2011 (9.63%), showing a clear improvement in people's living conditions and income. This is a remarkable achievement, reflecting efforts in poverty reduction, economic development and improving people's lives.

New Rural Development has brought about positive changes in many areas with the common goal of improving the lives of rural people. Thanks to that, the appearance of Tien Giang countryside has changed a lot.

THE ANH

(to be continued)

Source: https://baoapbac.vn/kinh-te/202506/thuoc-do-tu-long-dan-bai-2-nhung-buoc-di-bai-ban-1044726/