Solid roofs in Na On resettlement area, Trung Ly commune.

Solving the "settling down" problem

As a border district, Muong Lat has a terrain that is mainly high and mountainous, strongly divided, and is often affected by natural disasters such as flash floods and landslides. In the "great flood" of 2018, natural disasters swept away hundreds of houses, buried schools, and severely damaged roads. With the attention of the Party and the State, new resettlement areas have been built, helping people move to new places with guaranteed electricity, water infrastructure, 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 Standing Committee, Muong Lat district has nearly 900 households that need housing support.

To solve the problem of "settling down", the district has encountered many difficulties. For example, 11 resettlement projects that are being and will be implemented all encounter many obstacles due to the fragmented terrain, leading to high investment costs, while the support level from the province is still low (VND 300 million/household for concentrated resettlement areas and VND 150 million/household for adjacent resettlement areas). Most of the projects when implementing the design have exceeded the total investment. In some cases, the total investment is not enough to carry out the leveling item.

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

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

“Settling down” is not simply about moving or building new houses, but more deeply, it is the process of changing the lifestyle and production habits of the mountainous people. Resettlement areas such as Poong village, Na Chua village, and Qua village have become “bright areas” when people no longer practice shifting cultivation, but gradually approach a sedentary lifestyle, proactively doing business, and investing for the future.

The role of the people as the main subject is 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 temporary house by the stream, often isolated during the rainy and flood season. After receiving support to build a new house, he boldly invested in raising breeding cows, combined with afforestation. Thanks to hard work, Mr. Du's household has escaped poverty sustainably. The change is not only in each household, but also spreads throughout the community.

Turn potential into advantage

While resettlement helps people stabilize their lives, improving production conditions and economic development are key factors to help them escape poverty sustainably. Therefore, in addition to building infrastructure and settling down, exploiting land potential and promoting investment attraction become important factors to improve the quality of life and develop the local economy.

In addition to agricultural development, tourism is considered a potential field that the district is focusing on investing in and exploiting. With more than 100 km of border, possessing many famous landscapes such as Heaven's Gate, Sai Khao village, Tay Tien Army memorial stele, Tu Ma Hai Dao temple and unique cultural identities of ethnic groups, the district is developing three main tourism product groups: community tourism; cultural, historical, spiritual tourism and eco-tourism, adventure tourism.

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

In parallel, industry and handicrafts are important sectors to promote growth and create jobs. Currently, the district has mineral mines associated with stone and unburnt brick processing factories of Hung Loc Trading and Construction Company Limited and Chung Nguyen Investment Joint Stock Company. The district is coordinating with Phuc Thinh Agricultural and Forestry Products and Agricultural Materials Processing Joint Stock Company to complete the project of building a cassava starch processing factory in Muong Ly commune. Restoring and developing traditional crafts such as brocade weaving, weaving, wine brewing, and forging of the Mong people are also receiving attention.

Chairman of Muong Lat District People's Committee Trinh Van The emphasized: After more than 2 years of Resolution 11-NQ/TU, the appearance of Muong Lat district has had many positive changes. In 2024, the district will have 1 commune meeting the NTM standards; a hydropower project with a scale of 450 billion VND was started; a cassava processing factory with a total investment of 250 billion VND is completing investment procedures, consuming products, creating jobs for people. In education, there has been great progress with 18 new schools starting construction. Traffic infrastructure has been invested synchronously, cars can access most villages.

The district is implementing 28 projects under Resolution 11-NQ/TU, including 22 education projects, 3 transport projects, 2 agricultural projects, and 1 water supply project. Of these, 15 projects have started construction (2 completed projects, 13 projects under construction), 2 projects are about to start construction, 1 project is bidding, 4 projects are being surveyed and designed, and 6 projects are preparing for investment. Particularly, 22 education projects were allocated capital of 200 billion VND, about 80 billion VND has been disbursed; it is expected that by June 30, 2025, the disbursement will reach 120 billion VND.

“It can be said that from a “poverty center” with rugged terrain and backward farming practices, Muong Lat is gradually changing its appearance after more than 2 years of implementing Resolution 11-NQ/TU. The change is not only evident through peach and plum gardens on Nhi Son hilltop; fertile cassava fields in Muong Ly; Muong Chanh commune meeting NTM standards; or spacious infrastructure works - but also in the mindset and awareness of the people. Although there are still many difficulties, with the drastic participation of the entire political system, the companionship of businesses and the spirit of self-reliance of the people, Muong Lat is gradually affirming its new position, no longer being “the poorest district in the province” - the Chairman of Muong Lat District People's Committee shared.

Leaving Muong Lat, we returned downstream along the winding slopes of the great forest. In that mountainous area, Muong Lat is no longer a lonely, backward land but is gradually joining the general development of the whole province. And perhaps, the change in the belief and aspiration of the people here is the greatest achievement that Resolution 11-NQ/TU has brought after more than 2 years of implementation - a priceless achievement that cannot be measured in numbers.

Article 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