Lai Chau: Resolution 15 lights up the journey to eliminate bad customs

VTV.vn - From villages still heavily burdened with bad customs, Lai Chau is changing dramatically thanks to Resolution 15, building a civilized life, preserving identity and developing sustainably.

Sin Suoi Ho villagers clean up the village to create a clean and green space. Photo: Hoang Anh

"Light" from a resolution

Lai Chau is a mountainous, border province, where 20 ethnic groups live together. This land is not only rich in historical traditions and cultural identity, but also contains the strength of community solidarity. However, along with good values, many backward customs and practices have persisted for many generations, becoming a major barrier to socio -economic development.

Bad customs such as early marriage, incestuous marriage, cumbersome funerals, superstition, the concept of "male superiority over female", or the habit of locking livestock under the floor... have slowed down the pace of many villages, causing many households to fall into a vicious cycle of poverty.

Mr. Vang A Tua, Secretary of the Sin Suoi Ho village Party Cell, propagates to the villagers to clearly understand Resolution 15 on eliminating backward customs. Photo: Nguyen Quan

Based on that reality, on December 22, 2023, the Lai Chau Provincial Party Committee issued Resolution No. 15-NQ/TU on "Eliminating backward customs, practices and habits, building a civilized lifestyle in the period of 2024 - 2030". This is a correct, timely and popular policy, aiming to guide ethnic people to change their awareness, gradually forming a progressive lifestyle, in line with the general development trend of the country.

The Resolution sets the goal by 2030 to basically eliminate backward customs and practices; at the same time, preserve and promote good traditional cultural values; promote the movement "All people unite to build a cultural life"; build cultural families and villages associated with economic development, sustainable poverty reduction, ensure security and order, and consolidate the great national unity bloc.

Grassroots officials and villagers discuss solutions to eliminate bad customs and build a civilized lifestyle. Photo: Hoang Anh

To achieve the goal, the resolution sets out many synchronous tasks and solutions: strengthening propaganda, mobilization, and education for the people; promoting the exemplary role of cadres and party members; improving the quality of activities of the grassroots political system; enhancing the prestige of village elders, village chiefs, and influential people in the community; promptly praising advanced models; and at the same time strictly handling cases of intentional violations.

A bright spot in the resolution is its flexibility and scientific approach: resolutely eliminating backward customs while inheriting and promoting beautiful, unique customs. This viewpoint demonstrates a long-term vision, not an extreme "complete denial", but a harmonious combination of preservation and innovation. In particular, the resolution also links the elimination of backward customs with improving economic and social life, because only when people have a stable life will they have the motivation to change their thinking and abandon backward habits.

Local leaders visited households to grasp people's thoughts and mobilize them to implement Resolution 15-NQ/TU. Photo: Hoang Anh

Obvious changes from the grassroots

In Sin Suoi Ho village, Sin Suoi Ho commune - where 100% of the population is Mong - there used to be many bad customs such as early marriage, superstition, keeping livestock next to the house... Thanks to the drastic intervention of the Party Committee, the government and the consensus of the people, the appearance of the village has changed dramatically. People actively renovate their houses, maintain hygiene, gradually abandon old bad customs, and build a new way of life. The village has become a bright spot for community tourism, attracting a large number of domestic and foreign tourists.

Ms. Sung Thi My, a villager, shared: "In the past, the village still had the custom of wife-pulling and wife-capturing, but now we have stopped it. The village is cleaner, the children have a better future." Mr. Vang A Tua, Secretary of the village Party Cell, affirmed: "Thanks to Resolution 15, the Party Cell regularly propagates and mobilizes people to gradually abandon backward customs. People's awareness has changed significantly." Comrade Giang A Vu, Standing Deputy Secretary of the Commune Party Committee, assessed: "The resolution issued is very correct and accurate, in line with the legitimate thoughts and aspirations of the people."

People actively participate in preserving and promoting traditional cultural identity. Photo: Quan Nguyen

In Na Don village, Pu Sam Cap commune, the resolution implementation was carried out systematically: the commune established a Steering Committee, clearly assigned tasks, and organized village meetings to collect people's opinions. Thanks to that, many bad customs such as early marriage and keeping animals under the floor were eliminated. Mr. Quang Van Man, Head of the village, shared: "When the commune propagated, people were very sympathetic and supportive, eliminating backward bad customs."

In Ban Bo commune, where many bad customs used to exist such as expensive weddings, long funerals, keeping livestock under the floor... the implementation of the resolution has brought about practical results. Ms. Lo Thi Hop, Hop Nhat village, excitedly said: "Since the bad customs were abandoned, people's lives have improved a lot." Mr. Deo Van Nien, Secretary of the village Party cell, affirmed: "The Party cell has deployed the Party's policies to the people, combined with Resolution 15. Up to now, people have basically abandoned backward customs and superstitions."

The mass art troupe performed, contributing to spreading the movement to build a new cultural life. Photo: Hoang Anh

In Nam Cuoi commune, after merging with Nam Han, the movement "All people unite to build a cultural life" has been promoted, contributing to changing thinking and working methods. Mr. Lo Van Un, Secretary of Hua Cuoi village Party cell, said: "The village regularly propagates for people to change every day, building a cultural residential area". Up to now, 100% of the villages in the commune have registered to meet the standards of "cultural village".

The results achieved in Sin Suoi Ho, Pu Sam Cap, Ban Bo or Nam Cuoi are vivid proof of the resolution's effectiveness. From being considered "incurable diseases", many bad customs have been gradually eliminated. The material and spiritual life of the people has been increasingly improved; the villages are spacious and clean; the spirit of community solidarity has been strengthened.

Lai Chau today is spacious and modern – proof of the change from the Party's correct policy. Photo: Nguyen Quan

It can be affirmed that Resolution 15-NQ/TU is a correct policy, in line with the people's wishes, meeting practical requirements. With high political determination, the synchronous participation of the entire political system and the consensus of the people, the resolution has truly entered life, creating strong changes in the awareness and behavior of ethnic people.

In the context of the country promoting industrialization, modernization and international integration, building a civilized and progressive lifestyle in highland and border areas such as Lai Chau is extremely important. This is not only an immediate task but also a long-term strategy, associated with the goal of sustainable development, ensuring national defense and security, and maintaining the country's borders.

The people's trust and consensus are the "keys" for Resolution 15 to come into life. From this correct policy, Lai Chau is gradually eliminating bad customs, preserving identity, building a civilized life, contributing to consolidating the border and creating a solid foundation for sustainable development in the far west of the country.

Source: https://vtv.vn/lai-chau-nghi-quyet-15-thap-sang-hanh-trinh-xoa-bo-hu-tuc-10025091519054834.htm