"Paying Debt of Gratitude" has become a widespread movement of the people in various forms. Owing to the interest of the whole society, people credited with revolutionary service (PCRS) in Ben Cat Town now have a better life.
Taking care of every aspect
Ben Cat Town is managing 4,920 PCRS, including 2,526 martyrs, 263 wounded soldiers, 77 sick soldiers; 460 mothers were awarded and conferred the noble title "Vietnamese heroic mothers"; 83 people were revolutionary prisoner, 52 people were infected by toxic chemical, 1,424 people as helpers and contributors to the revolution. Ms. Ly Thanh Lan, Deputy Director of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs Office of the Town, to pay debt of gratitude to PCRS, Ben Cat has well implemented preferential policies toward PCRS according to regulations; timely and satisfactorily settle interests and preferential policies towards PCRS and their relatives in the town. Since 2012, 8/8 communes and wards were recognized as communes and wards doing good jobs of looking after PCRS. Nguyen Van Ut, a relative of martyr Nguyen Duc Tai, said that policy families as him was very satisfied, because local government had taken good care of material and spiritual life of them, families realized that sacrifices of their loved ones paid off.
Ben Cat Town Youth Union presents gifts to Vietnamese heroic mother Trinh Thi Diep in My Phuoc Ward, Ben Cat Township.
Determining the policy of "Paying Debt of Gratitude" as the central task, local leaders regularly launch movements, mobilize branches, unions, organizations to take care of policy beneficiaries, families; exempt or reduce land use fees for PCRS. In recent years, Ben Cat has approved 67 exemptions. In the last 5 years, Ben Cat has built 66 houses, repaired 130 gratitude houses for policy beneficiaries with total cost of over VND11 billion.
Furthermore, Ben Cat Town has also implemented preferential policies for PCRS relatives. In the last 5 years, the town reduced tuition for over 239 children; pays monthly allowance and one-time allowance for 678 children studying at schools with total amount of over VND2.1 billion.
Heightening living standards
The policy of the Party and State is to more and more concern about the material and spiritual life of martyrs' families and PCRS. In addition, the whole society also joins hands to care for PCRS; thus the life of PCRS in Ben Cat is getting better and better. For example, Mr. Tran Van Thanh living in Tan Dinh Ward, Ben Cat Town, who is a 3/4 wounded soldier, said, after returning, he began to establish his family economy but encountered many difficulties. Small land plus no money, he and his wife had to struggle, determined to bring up the family. Fortunately, due to the support of local government, he was able to take loans with preferential interests. Thanks to these funds, he developed pig and cow breeding, grew crops, and then planted rubber trees. His family life is so stable now, his two children have grown up and get good jobs. He said that the deep concern for policy families created a sustainable life for his family.
Nguyen Quang Ngan living Hoa Loi Ward, Ben Cat District, is a 3/4 wounded soldier. He is an exemplary citizen, actively involved in local movements. Currently, his family is completely exempted from land use fees. At the same time, his youngest son is a graduate student of Thu Dau Mot University, while his sister is doing a master degree; they are both exempted from tuition. Therefore, they study well and obtained scholarships for excellent students. At present, his family life is stable, children are about to graduate, he believes in a bright future, believes in policies the Party and State, which always care for PCRS lives.
It can be said that the live of policy beneficiaries in the town have changed well towards poverty reduction. Ms. Ly Thanh Lan said: "We are very grateful and moved by great efforts of wounded soldiers, sick soldiers, martyrs and PCRS families in the town. They have risen up from their sorrows and losses, overcome many difficulties, devoted themselves to the cause of national renewal”.
As of June 20, 2007, 100 percent of policy beneficiaries receiving monthly allowances in Ben Cat Town have a living standard that is equal to or higher than the average living standard of local population, including 145 wealthy families (16%); 291 well-off families (32%); 475 medium families, no poor families.
Reported by A.Sang, T.Duong – Translated by Ngoc Huynh
