Hunger eradication and poverty reduction is a major policy of our Party and State, and the responsibility of the entire Party, people, Army and the whole political system. Promoting the role as an army for work, over the years, Ninh Thuan Provincial Border Guard has always thoroughly grasped Uncle Ho's teaching and actively helped people in the area to eliminate hunger and reduce poverty, achieving practical results.

Immediately after the success of the August Revolution, in the first meeting of the Government (September 3, 1945), President Ho Chi Minh mentioned hunger relief as one of the top six urgent tasks. He held that: "Freedom and independence that we gained would mean nothing if people keep dying of hunger and cold. People only know the value of freedom and independence when they are warm and well-fed". Thus, according to his point of view, hunger eradication and poverty reduction are of primary importance in the Party's revolutionary cause. They are closely linked with the independence of the nation, freedom of the people; a prerequisite for developing the country sustainably. That is also the responsibility of the entire Party, people, Army, and the whole political system.

Deeply aware of the issue, closely following its functions and tasks, firmly grasping the characteristics and situation of its area of operation, especially the maritime border area, in recent years, the Party Committee and Command of Ninh Thuan Provincial Border Guard have done a good job of advising the Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial People's Committee; closely coordinated with local organisations and forces, and focused on leading and directing the work of hunger eradication and poverty reduction with synchronous and practical solutions, flexibly implemented and creatively applied many effective models, bringing Uncle Ho's teachings into reality.

First of all, the Provincial Border Guard’s Party Committee and Command attach great importance to leading and directing this work, considering this the principle and the most important solution. Thoroughly grasping the views and policies of the Party and State, resolutions, directives, plans and instructions of superiors, especially those of the Provincial Party Committee, the Provincial People's Committee and the Party Committee and High Command of the Border Guard on hunger eradication and poverty alleviation, the Provincial Border Guard's Party Committee and Command developed a thematic leadership resolution along with a system of action plans and programs with specific targets and solutions relevant to the characteristics and conditions of the area. In particular, emphasis is placed on building strong grassroots political systems, building increasingly firm socio-economic infrastructure in communes, wards and townships; propagating and mobilising people to actively participate in the implementation of national programs, projects and goals on socio-economic development, such as: Programs 134, 135, 168, etc. In order to help people eliminate hunger and reduce poverty in an effective and sustainable way, the Party Committee and Command of the Provincial Border Guard require working groups to firmly grasp the area, actively advise and closely coordinate with local Party committees and authorities in propagating, mobilising and guiding people to change economic structure, conduct technology transfer, and apply new scientific and technological advances into production. At the same time, they direct the units to actively participate in the construction of "new rural areas, civilised cities" according to their capabilities; order their cadres and soldiers to help poor households and families in difficult circumstances through investment in capital, trees and seeds, and contributions to the hunger eradication and poverty reduction fund in the localities. Special attention is paid to the work of preventing, combating and overcoming the consequences of natural disasters, search and rescue,... contributing to gradually improving the living standards of the people.

Providing cow for the poor household

Along with performing well the central political task of managing and protecting the sovereignty and security of the maritime border area, the Provincial Border Guard has strengthened education to raise the awareness and responsibility for its troops in helping people eliminate hunger and reduce poverty, and make them always consider it as their political responsibility. Accordingly, the work of thoroughly grasping and disseminating viewpoints, lines, undertakings and policies on socio-economic development, hunger eradication and poverty reduction for cadres and soldiers is always paid due attention and implemented seriously by Party committees and commanders at all levels. In order to make it highly effective, the Provincial Border Guard Command bases on the characteristics of each object and learning content to hold extensive political drives throughout the Unit, focusing on resolutions, plans, schemes, ... of the Party, State and the province as well as each locality. According to their scope of responsibility, Border Guard units are required to grasp each household in the area, especially the poor and near-poor ones, the circumstances and main causes leading to their poor economic conditions. During the implementation process, the agencies and units of the Provincial Border Guard always adhere to the contents and requirements of the Project "Innovating political education in the units in the new period"; promote the learning and following of Ho Chi Minh's thought, morality and style associated with the implementation of the Determined to win emulation movement ...to create unity in awareness, action and determination for well completing this important task.

The Provincial Border Guard is managing and protecting the sovereignty and security of the maritime border area, including 15 communes, wards and towns in 05 districts and cities with 105 km of coastline. This area has a relatively complex terrain. Apart from a number of places suitable for the construction of ports, fishing wharfs, etc., which is favourable for socio-economic development, the terrain are mostly mountainous with few rivers and streams, hot weather, and unevenly distributed population, where ethnic minorities often live in separate areas. In the past time, thanks to the attention of the Party, the State, all levels and branches, the dynamism, creativity with high determination, positive actions of all levels and forces in the area, the province's socio-economic development has seen positive changes; people's living standards have been gradually improved. However, due to a low starting point and negative impacts from many factors, especially natural features, the province’s economy and people's living standards are still low; the number of poor households still accounts for over 3.8%, which is higher than the national average. Firmly grasping these characteristics and reality, the Provincial Border Guard, especially the Border Guard stations, have closely coordinated with all levels of local Party committees, authorities and forces in the area to directly help people eliminate hunger and reduce poverty by many specific and effective measures and models, contributing to improving the material and spiritual life of the people, reducing the percentage of poor and near-poor households. As a locality with large number of fishermen, the Provincial Border Guard has advised the Border Guard High Command, the Provincial People's Committee, and closely coordinated with local departments and agencies to construct a number of piers and wharves for not only serving well the management and control of import and export, but also creating favourable conditions for people's boats to anchor, unload goods and catch seafood, shelter from storms, limit costs and risks, and improve income. It has actively helped people produce, improve labour productivity through structural transformation of crops and livestock, application of new scientific and technical advances; promoted the implementation of local social security projects and works, thereby contributing to stabilising life, promoting socio-economic development.

Along with the above solutions, the Provincial Border Guard attaches special importance to implementing models, such as: "Breeding cows for the poor at the border"; “Helping children with schooling”; “Accompanying coastal women”; “Adoptees of border guard stations”, etc. Up to now, these models have attracted the attention and companionship of the Party committees, authorities, mass organisations at all levels, the support and active response of people from all walks of life, bringing practical effects, contributing to improving the lives of people with difficult circumstances. At the same time, the Provincial Border Guard also provides material support and gifts to policy families, people with meritorious services, and the poor during holidays and Tet; provides necessities to localities isolated due to Covid-19 pandemic, etc. As a result, despite many difficulties, in recent years, the people's life in the province in general and the coastal area of Ninh Thuan in particular has seen much improvement. The percentage of poor and near-poor households has decreased markedly. Notably, currently nearly 50% of vessels of fishermen in the coastal area of Ninh Thuan have capacity of 90 CV or above which enables them to go offshore fishing, create jobs and increase income for many people in the area. This result is attributed to very high efforts, with the acumen and flexibility of the whole political system, forces and people, including the provincial border guards.

Such humane and socially responsible activities not only contribute to promoting hunger eradication and poverty reduction, improving people’s living standards, and promoting the development of social welfare, developing Ninh Thuan fast and sustainably, but also strengthen people’s trust and the military-civilian solidarity, beautify the noble qualities of "Uncle Ho's Soldiers", and build an increasingly firm "the people’s heart and mind posture" and the all people’s border guard posture.

Senior Colonel VU DINH NHAT, Political Commissar of the Provincial Border Guard