Prioritizing people's safety
In Tan Mai commune, a commune in the Hoa Binh lake area, more than 100km from the old Hoa Binh province center and about 200km from the new Phu Tho province center, Mr. Bui Ngoc Dai, former Deputy Director of the Department of Home Affairs of Hoa Binh province, is currently holding the position of Chairman of the Commune People's Committee.
After the merger, Mr. Dai took on the task of Tan Mai, the new commune was established on the basis of merging Tan Thanh and Son Thuy communes (old Mai Chau district). The new commune chairman spent time directly going to the grassroots, visiting residential areas, resettlement areas, visiting tourist establishments, schools, medical stations... to grasp the reality. In which, San hamlet, Khoi hamlet are the first destinations. These are areas that are still facing many difficulties and are at risk of landslides. "This is the peak of the rainy season, people's safety is top priority," Mr. Dai shared.
According to Mr. Dai, the farthest hamlet is nearly 40km from the commune center, the road is narrow, and many sections are very difficult to travel. From those trips, he and the commune Party Committee and government analyzed and clearly identified the difficulties and advantages to propose solutions close to reality.
The early appearance of commune heads in difficult areas has moved people. Ms. Bui Thi Thung, a resident of Sop hamlet, shared: "After the merger, we have high expectations for a government close to the people, close to the people to listen to and resolve our concerns and aspirations. The new leadership has cared since the beginning, we are excited.
A distance from Tan Mai, a strip of Hoa Binh Hydropower Reservoir, Tien Phong Commune, in the old Da Bac District, is now gradually stabilizing after the merger. The Muong and Tay people live here, but the hamlets and villages are also quite sparse on the hillsides. Traffic is still a problem and is also a major "bottleneck" that makes the lives of people in Tien Phong still difficult.
Ms. Ban Kim Quy, former Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of the old Da Bac district, now Chairman of the People's Committee of Tien Phong commune, shared that in the first days of taking up the assignment, the brothers faced many difficulties. The road to the commune is under construction, the rain causes landslides, and motorbikes cannot travel. Many cadres are far away, lack facilities, and are not familiar with the area.
"Among the team of cadres and civil servants, there are people who live quite far from the center. Every morning, a motorbike alone, carrying a pair of cages, travels dozens of kilometers of road under construction to get to the commune without being late for work. Some young intellectuals are too far from home, every night they are forced to stay at the headquarters alone. Everyone is trying their best to complete the assigned tasks well, Ms. Quy shared.
New government with specific actions
In Toan Thang commune, Phu Tho province, Mr. Bui Van Duong could not hide his joy when receiving satisfaction right from the first days of the new two-level local government in operation. In early July, Mr. Duong submitted an application to change the purpose of land use for housing. At that time, the commune did not have a stamp but the documents were still received, the cadres were enthusiastic with a clear "serving the people" attitude.
"I was instructed once to complete the application. Recently, I received an appointment to return the results. Previously, every time I applied, I had to go to the district, traveling was very difficult. Now I clearly see positive changes, especially in handling land procedures, Mr. Duong shared.
Not only in the way of doing things, the transformation also comes from the media. Nearly 100% of communes and wards have established social networking sites to notify, receive feedback, and process recommendations. Mr. Bui Van Quan, Khi hamlet, Toan Thang commune lives in a hamlet at risk of landslides. Mr. Quan reported to the commune and received instructions to stabilize the housing in the coming time.
After the merger, many cadres were assigned to the grassroots. Many people who have held leadership positions at the department and branch levels now start their working day with the smallest things: receiving people, going on field trips in hamlets and villages. Those changes and those commitments are contributing to the formation of a government that is close to the people and truly close to the people. Without having to shout a slogan, that movement is taking place silently but brings great confidence to the people.
