Policy of gratitude to meritorious people

Chairman of Saigon Co.op Trade Union Ta Quang Bac (front row, right cover) visits and presents gifts to Vietnamese Heroic Mothers in Chau Hoa commune, Giong Trom district.

Contribute to relieve pain

Vietnamese Heroic Mother Ngo Thi Nam, 95 years old, residing in Phu Thanh Hamlet, Phu Tuc Commune, Chau Thanh District, was lying in a hammock watching TV. When she saw us coming, she wanted to stand up but was too weak, she had to hold on to the edge of the hammock for a long time before she could stand up. Mother Ngo Thi Nam is one of 101 living Heroic Mothers (out of a total of 6,946 Heroic Mothers) in the province.

Ngo Thi Nam's mother had a husband, martyr Nguyen Van Hau, who died in 1971, and a fifth son, martyr Nguyen Van Do, who died in 1973. Asked about her life, Nam's mother pondered: "I have forgotten a lot, I only remember that when I married Mr. Hau, I was 17 years old. After the wedding, the following year, I got pregnant, which was also the time when my husband escaped and lived in the forest. He was not at ease because I would not be at home, the soldiers would come and ask where your husband is, and I would only be arrested. He came back from the forest and took me with him, leaving me in a civilian's house. I had to change places to live all the time...".

Currently, every month, Ngo Thi Nam’s mother receives a subsidy of 13.5 million VND for heroic mothers. In addition, every quarter, the support unit, Saigon Co.op, comes to give 3 million VND (1 million VND per month). Thanks to that, Nam’s mother is assured of her daily life. Nam’s mother said: “Thanks to the care of the Party and the State, my life in old age is peaceful.” Every day, Nam’s youngest son, Doan Van Be Nho, takes care of her meals and sleep.

In Mo Cay Nam district, where there are 6,343 martyrs, 1,258 heroic mothers, more than 17,000 families who have contributed to the revolution, nearly 4,000 heroic people and relatives of heroic people are receiving monthly preferential allowances with an amount of over 6 billion VND. The 23 surviving heroic mothers are all being cared for by units inside and outside the province. It can be said that the number of martyrs in the district is very large, which means that many women have lost their husbands and children have lost their fathers. These are pains that are difficult to compensate for. Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu, daughter of martyr Nguyen Van Thiem, residing in Phuoc Hiep commune, Mo Cay Nam district, said: "Around 1974, my father sacrificed, leaving behind my mother and 6 sisters. In 2022, I received support from the State to build a house of gratitude. My house now no longer has flooding, and I am no longer afraid of getting wet from the rain and wind." Ms. Thu shared that her pain of losing her father was understood, sympathized with and soothed.

Many gratitude activities

Through two resistance wars to defend the Fatherland, the province has about 144,000 people with meritorious services who have been recognized, honored, and received preferential subsidies from the Party, the State, and the care of all classes of people. In recent times, the work of caring for war invalids, martyrs, and people with meritorious services has received attention from all classes of society. Saigon Co.op is one of the units that has taken care of many heroic Vietnamese mothers in the province. From 2016 to present, Saigon Co.op has taken care of 79 heroic Vietnamese mothers in the province. Now many mothers have passed away, there are only 27 mothers left. Each month, the mothers receive 500,000 VND from Saigon Co.op. From 2024 to present, each mother will receive 1 million VND/month, as a small act of gratitude to heroic Vietnamese mothers.

Chairman of Saigon Co.op Trade Union Ta Quang Bac shared: “VNAH mothers are “living history” for today’s generation. We always hope that mothers will always live happily and healthily with their children and grandchildren. Through our support, we wish to express our gratitude for the sacrifices of mothers and their families in the struggle to protect the Fatherland.”

The work of gratitude in the province has been carried out practically and meaningfully. As of April 2025, the province has confirmed and paid monthly allowances to 16,756 meritorious people, with an amount of over 50 billion VND. Subsidy and care policies for meritorious people have been implemented promptly.

The province currently has 17 martyrs' cemeteries, burying 18,506 martyrs' graves. All martyrs' cemeteries in the province are built spaciously and cleanly to welcome relatives to visit and pay their respects. In addition, there are 152 martyrs' temples and 6 martyrs' steles. 6,946 Vietnamese Heroic Mothers have been awarded and posthumously awarded. 101 living Vietnamese Heroic Mothers have been supported by organizations and individuals inside and outside the province until the end of their lives.

In addition, the province has supported the construction and repair of 11,281 gratitude houses, with a total amount of over 350 billion VND. The province is making efforts to implement the program "Joining hands to eliminate temporary and dilapidated houses nationwide", with a total number of households in need of support for construction and repair for meritorious people, poor households, near-poor households and households in difficult circumstances in the province in 2025 being 2,101 households, with a support budget of 106.89 billion VND.

According to statistics from the Department of Home Affairs, currently, 99% of policy families and meritorious people in the province have a standard of living equal to or higher than the average standard of living in residential areas. 50 years have passed since the Liberation of the South (April 30, 1975), the lives of people in resistance zones have increasingly improved thanks to the attention and care of the whole society.

“In the past time, the province has fully implemented the preferential policies of the Party and the State for war invalids and martyrs’ families. In addition, Party committees, authorities, the Fatherland Front and organizations; military and police agencies, collectives and individuals inside and outside the province have actively participated in the movements of “Repaying gratitude”, “All people take care of war invalids, families of martyrs and people with meritorious services to the revolution” with many practical activities... I hope that each person, each sector, each social organization will do better in caring for war invalids, martyrs and people with meritorious services, considering this our responsibility, affection and honor to express our deep gratitude to those who have contributed to the cause of national liberation and protection of the Fatherland”.

(Vice Chairwoman of Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Thi Be Muoi)

Article and photos: Thach Thao

Source: https://baodongkhoi.vn/chinh-sach-tri-an-nguoi-co-cong-18042025-a145358.html