Central Quang Binh province selected six communes in six districts to pilot the national programme for building new rural areas. Local people have actively become involved in the programme, and feel a high sense of responsibility. The Voice of Vietnam Radio reports.

After three years implementing the new rural areas programme, almost all piloted localities, 70 communes in Quang Binh province, have achieved eight to 12 of the 19 new rural criteria. As many as 100km of rural road have been built and schools and public places upgraded. Tens of thousands of households donated 250,000sq.m of land for the programme.

In Xuan Ninh commune, Quang Ninh district, the villagers are trying to complete this year’s targets. Nguyen Truong Tien, Chairman of Xuan Ninh People’s Committee, said the commune has successfully encouraged locals to join the efforts. Villagers have donated 1,000sq.m of land and money to build and expand inter-hamlet roads.

Tien said the commune has set out to achieve all criteria by 2015. “The commune began the national programme of new rural development in 2010. We have completed nine creteria and are working on achieving the others. People here support the programme. We aim to improve people’s living conditions."

In Quang Phuc commune, Quang Trach district, where 90 percent of the population are Christians, local people also voluntarily contribute land, money and labour to build rural roads. Nguyen Chi Doai, a villager, said: “We are delighted and sympathetic to the idea of donating land to build roads. The countryside has been improved with good roads and multi-storey houses.”

Quang Binh province has mobilised resources valued at nearly 25 million USD to build new rural areas, including capital from the State budget, credit, enterprises, and the population.

Hoang Van Min, Deputy Director of the Quang Binh provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said: “The province has prioritised part of the State budget for communes which have nearly achieved all the 19 criteria. The communes and districts will encourage people to become involved in building roads to ease transport issues and improve people’s living conditions."

The communes and districts have applied new production models and adopted new animal and plant varieties. With the people’s consensus and the administration’s effort, Quang Binh province has obtained impressive results in developing new rural areas.-VNA