Military-civilian relationship in the highlands of Quang Ngai

Join hands to build a warm home, foster trust

For generations, the communal house has been a sacred symbol in the community life of ethnic minorities in the mountainous region of Western Quang Ngai . There, among the misty mountain passes, there is a warm story about the solidarity between the army and the people, the story of the officers and soldiers of the Quang Ngai Provincial Military Command coordinating with agencies, departments, branches and people of Mo Po village to build a spacious communal house - a house of solidarity, of faith and aspiration for change.

Delegates visited the newly inaugurated communal house.

Mo Po village has 30 households with nearly 140 people, of which more than 90% are Xo Dang ethnic people. Due to the rugged terrain, difficult traffic and travel, life is still lacking. For a long time, the people have dreamed of an increasingly improved material and spiritual life, first of all, having a communal house to gather, keep the traditional fire burning, organize festivals and community activities. Understanding that aspiration, in recent years, the Quang Ngai Provincial Military Command has proactively surveyed, consulted, coordinated with local Party committees and authorities to deploy many "Smart Mass Mobilization" models, mobilized and guided people to promote labor production, gradually changed their thinking and ways of doing things, helped people to escape poverty sustainably and coordinated to build communal houses for people.

During the days when the soldiers came to the village to build the Rong house, people contributed labor, gave up land to make the project more spacious and solid. From the solid concrete foundation to the curved roof frame meticulously covered with thatched grass, every meter of concrete road leading the way... everything contained the soldiers' hard work, sweat and heart for the people. Then, on a sunny May morning, the sound of gongs and drums resounded, signaling great joy when the Rong house of more than 400 square meters was completed, becoming a gathering place for affection and solidarity between the army and the people. In the joy, Mr. A Tuan, a local who voluntarily donated land to build the Rong house, could not help but be moved: "Looking at the spacious Rong house, I am so happy, soldiers! From now on, the villagers have a place to live and celebrate the new rice crop. The villagers are very grateful to the soldiers!" That simple, sincere confession is a vivid testament to the close relationship between the army and the people, like fish and water, like flesh and blood of one family.

Help people escape poverty

Along with building houses, officers and soldiers of the Quang Ngai Provincial Military Command also persistently propagate and mobilize people to eliminate bad customs, implement family planning, maintain village hygiene, encourage children to go to school, sponsor orphans, guide people to apply science and technology in production and animal husbandry... Thanks to that, many families have gradually changed their thinking, know how to calculate business, boldly borrow capital to grow precious medicinal plants, develop goat raising models... to increase income.

Mr. A Thoan, Head of Mo Po village, shared: “The communal house is completed, the dream of the villagers has come true. The soldiers are very good! In addition to helping build the communal house, the soldiers also actively teach the villagers how to escape poverty, how to maintain their health, learn to read and write, and learn a trade”. Indeed, in this mountainous area with many difficulties, the soldiers are always a solid support, a reliable support for the people. Colonel A Hang, Deputy Commissar of the Quang Ngai Provincial Military Command, said: “The lives of ethnic minorities in remote, isolated, and border areas still depend heavily on nature and are still dependent on the State's support. Faced with this reality, the Provincial Military Command has advised and directed agencies and units to closely coordinate with local Party committees and authorities to propagate and mobilize people to effectively implement the Campaign "Changing the thinking and working style of ethnic minorities, helping them to sustainably escape poverty", the Movement "The Army joins hands to eliminate temporary and dilapidated houses", build concrete roads, light up rural roads, support livelihoods, increase income, and help people escape poverty".

Under the roof of the newly inaugurated and put into use communal house, children's laughter echoed, people participated in community activities, enjoyed cultural and artistic activities... All contributed to strengthening the connection between the Party's will and the people's hearts, adding more confidence and motivation for people to be determined to build a prosperous life, to build an increasingly rich and beautiful homeland.

Article and photos: LE TAY