Village elder, village chief – Environmental protection propagandist

Regarding this issue, the reporter of the Natural Resources and Environment Newspaper had an interview with Mr. Dinh Cong Nguyen, (70 years old, Muong ethnic group) - Village elder of Chieng Le village, Chieng Khoa commune, Van Ho district, Son La province.

PV: Could you please share your impressions and feelings about the land and people of Chieng Khoa in general and Chieng Le village in particular?

Village elder Dinh Cong Nguyen:

Chieng Khoa commune is located about 20km from the center of Van Ho district. Previously, the whole commune had 13 villages, after the merger there are now 7 villages, of which 6 are ethnic minority villages with 4 ethnic groups living together.

Personally, I am originally from Hoa Binh, but I was born and raised in Chieng Khoa, for 70 years now. During the years living and working in Chieng Khoa, what I am most passionate about and attached to is the affection for the land and people of Chieng Khoa, always harmonious, kind, simple, and hospitable.

Not only that, Chieng Khoa is also blessed by nature with many beautiful landscapes such as Nang Tien waterfall, 7-storey waterfall, festivals such as Hoa Ban Festival, temple of 2 fairies associated with the legend of Nang Tien waterfall... That majestic and beautiful landscape and the 2 hydroelectric plants Suoi Tan 1 - Suoi Tan 2 are the resources, creating motivation for the cadres and people of Chieng Khoa to strive for socio-economic development.

Chieng Le is where I live, this is a particularly difficult village of Chieng Khoa commune, located 6km from the commune center. Having been attached to Chieng Le and Chieng Khoa all my life, I always love this land and hope that the people's lives will improve day by day. To preserve the cultural identity and natural resources, the environment is a particularly important factor. Therefore, our people always raise awareness to protect and preserve natural resources for harmonious and sustainable development.

Fairy Waterfall - one of the scenic spots protected and preserved by the Chieng Khoa people.

PV: In recent years, how has the role of village elders and village chiefs working with local authorities to preserve and protect natural resources and the environment been promoted, sir?

Village elder Dinh Cong Nguyen:

Four years ago, in December 2019, Chieng Khoa was the first commune in Van Ho district to be recognized as meeting the New Rural standards, completing the criteria one year ahead of schedule. This was the result of joint efforts, unanimity, and high determination from the district to commune, village, and individual levels.

In that success, I see that the authorities from the district to the commune have done a good job of propaganda and mobilization so that people understand, believe, listen and follow. We also identify and promote the role of village elders, village chiefs, and prestigious people in the community to join hands in propaganda work to help people preserve the natural landscape, not negatively impact nature, preserve forests and protect the environment.

People all know and are aware of the significance of environmental protection, join hands to build new rural areas, participate in the movement of All people unite to build new rural areas and civilized urban areas. Proactively donate land, contribute efforts to build rural roads, build village cultural houses, and irrigation works.

Chieng Khoa people have paid attention to environmental protection and promoted to tourists to join hands in protecting the environment.

In the villages, people are regularly mobilized to respond to environmental protection movements, maintain hygiene and general landscape, especially waterfall areas welcoming tourists. The collection and treatment of waste, domestic wastewater, and livestock are of interest and widely implemented among the people, eliminating the phenomenon of littering and littering.

Not only that, people also tell each other to plant forests and trees to create shade and landscape for village roads, alleys, and around residential areas... Propagating to tourists to join hands to protect the natural landscape and environment.

Actively learn and convert low-economic-efficiency corn and cassava areas to high-value fruit trees on sloping land. Thanks to that, the poverty rate has gradually decreased over the years; inter-commune and inter-village roads, schools, medical stations, etc. have been newly invested in. This has contributed to building a clean, green and beautiful rural appearance, ensuring socio-economic development, stabilizing the political security situation in the locality, and gradually improving the material and spiritual life of the people.

The material and spiritual life of Chieng Khoa people has changed a lot.

PV: In the coming time, to continue to maintain, sustain and improve the effectiveness of environmental protection, with your role, what specific directions do you have, sir?

Village elder Dinh Cong Nguyen:

Village elders, village chiefs, and prestigious people are the supporting arms, the extension of policies for leaders from commune to village. Village elders, village chiefs, and prestigious people are factors that consolidate the great solidarity bloc, together with the leaders of the commune and village, upholding the spirit of exemplary leadership, saying and doing, to bring policies and guidelines to the people.

Therefore, I always clearly define my responsibilities and roles in propaganda and mobilization work. I will continue to strive to better promote my pioneering role, leading the movements, regularly and actively participating in commune and village meetings, learning more information through books, newspapers, television, and other media to promptly grasp the Party's policies, the State's policies and laws, and the locality's, including resource management and environmental protection.

From there, propagate and mobilize people to implement, how to do it, how to say it so that people can easily listen, understand, trust and follow. Join hands with authorities at all levels to strive for a bright, clean, green and developed Chieng Khoa.

Thank you very much!

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