Vàng Văn Suồn gives guidance to local people on taking care of vegetables. — Photo baolaichau.vn

Nguyễn Việt Dũng

LAI CHÂU — Local leaders recognised as prestigious people in Lai Châu northern mountainous province have made many contributions to socio-economic development and the province's political system.

They are bridges between Party committees, local authorities and ethnic groups.

With their enthusiasm, responsibility and reputation, prestigious people are shining examples for locals. They join other citizens in promoting economic development, poverty reduction and actively applying scientific and technical advances to their lives and manufacture.

Household economic development

Trusted by the people and elected as village Party secretary and village head, Vàng Văn Suồn, a Thái ethnic man who lives in Ngà Village, Mường Than Commune, Than Uyên District, always fulfills his role and responsibilities well.

Clearly defining the tasks entrusted to him by the Party and the people, Suồn always remembers to be exemplary and work hard for the villagers.

He spends time researching the Party's and the State’s guidelines, policies and laws to educate the people.

He often visits and helps people in difficult situations and hardships.

Struggling to find solutions to improve people's lives, Suồn realises that the village leader needs to do well and always take the lead in all activities to gain the people’s trust.

He coordinated with the village management board and village’s Party members to build a strong Party grassroots organisation.

He makes efforts for economic development. Up to now, his family has an income of nearly VNĐ200 million (US$8,100) per year from cultivating 4,000sq.m of rice, raising crabs and snails, different kinds of fish, cattle and poultry.

When his family's economy is stable, Suồn encourages and shares his experiences with local people so they can convert ineffective crops to cinnamon, fruit trees and other crops.

He helps many households to plant 19ha of Vass 16 rice variety that meets VietGAP (Vietnamese Good Agricultural Practices) standards. It is the first product certified to VietGAP standards in Than Uyên District.

Responding practically to the campaign of building new rural lifestyle, Suồn and other leaders went to each household to encourage locals donate their land to widen roads in the village with an area of over 500sq.m.

People also contributed to building village gates, planting flowers and trees and repairing cultural houses with fund of over VNĐ300 million ($12,200).

Suồn said that he always put the group’s interests above personal interests.

“I carefully explain the things that people don't understand, and persistently accompany and support them with the things they cannot do,” said Suồn.

Deputy Chairman of the Mường Than Commune People's Committee Đàm Vũ Anh said that Suồn was a reputable, dedicated and responsible person.

Under his leadership, from a poor village with many difficulties, now the village has become an example of economic development.

He was trusted, loved and respected by the people, said Anh.

Another example is Lù A Pao, lives in Gia Khâu Village, Hồ Thầu Commune, Tam Đường District.

Pao always calls for the people to preserve and promote Dao ethnic cultural identity.

He regularly studies the people's thoughts and aspirations and then promptly reports them to the authorities.

Since then, the people have become more united and enthusiastic in working, producing and building a prosperous village.

Pao said that he must pioneer and succeed to make people in the village believe and follow.

He actively develops his family economy. He converted ineffective agricultural land to pear cultivation. Currently, his family raises 50 pigs, grows 50 pear trees, cultivates nearly 2ha of high-quality rice, and harvests more than eight tonnes of rice each year.

Enhance their role

Lai Châu Province now has 885 prestigious people who are Party secretaries, village heads, intellectuals, retired officials, good producers and religious dignitaries.

They are voted and honoured by locals.

They support the people in economic development, poverty reduction, eliminating bad customs, preserving and promoting the good cultural identity of each ethnic group.

Head of the Lai Châu Ethnic Committee Trần Hữu Chí said that local authorities at all levels create good conditions for reputable people to join every activity, including spreading State’s laws and regulations, poverty reduction programmes and building new rural lifestyle.

To enhance the reputable people’s role, in the coming time, Lai Châu Province will further raise the awareness of Party committees, authorities, the Fatherland Front and political and social organisations about the role and position of prestigious people.

The province will well implement the Party’s and State's policies for ethnic groups, including policies for reputable people.

The province will regularly foster knowledge and skills for prestigious people, providing them information about socio-economic development, creating conditions for them to participate in building socio-economic development programmes. — VNS