(VOVworld) – The material and emotional lives of people in Tien Phong hamlet, Lao Cai province have improved in recent years thanks to Sung A Di, former Vice President of Phong Hai town’s Fatherland Front who persuaded the locals to abide by the law, give up their backward practices, and develop their economy. Giang Seo Pua reports:

Di retired in 2010 and was elected head of Tien Phong hamlet, which is home to a great number of Mong people. Security there used to be lax. Subversive elements spread dissent and incited locals to leave their fields and their ancestors’ good practices. Di visited each family, explained to them Party and State policies, and exposed schemes to subvert national unity. He and other hamlet managers established a set of rules, which have been implemented responsibly: “We won the people’s trust and support for simplifying practices such as weddings and funerals to save time and money.”

Di pioneered the restructuring of crop and animal husbandry, which has increased the incomes of his family and other households in the hamlet. Di said: “I’ve persuaded people to raise cattle and poultry as a way to escape poverty. This has also increased their trust in the Party and State.”

There has been a big change in the locals’ mindset and behavior. Underage marriage and other backward practices have been abandoned. This has been largely due to Di’s contributions, according to Sung A Lu:  “We listen and do whatever he says. He has helped us establish a cultured lifestyle in residential areas and develop our economy to escape poverty. Our children now attend school and we all abide by Party and State policies.”

Thao A Gia, a member of the Fatherland Front of Bao Thang district, said Di is a prestigious and responsible man who helps connect the Party with the people: “Di has been very active in communicating Party guidelines and State policies and persuading the people to support national unity. He and local political organizations have explained to the people the negative effects of trafficking in women and children and uncontrolled migration.”

Thanks to Di’s efforts, the number of poor households in Tien Phong hamlet has fallen to just 15 out of 120.