Thanh Hoa (VNA) – The north central province of Thanh Hoa has taken a number ofspecific measures to fulfill its new-style rural area building plan, striving tohave an additional 42 communes accomplishing all criteria of the programme in2018.

Theprovince is making procedures to seek the government’s recognition of QuangXuong and Dong Son districts as new-style rural areas in the year.

At the sametime, it will focus on helping Muong Chanh commune in Muong Lat districtcomplete from three to five criteria, and ensuring that each mountainousdistrict has at least three new-style communes, thus raising the average numberof completed criteria in each commune to 16 out of the total 19 criteria.

In order toreach the target, Thanh Hoa will strengthen the apparatus of administrations atall levels to enhance their capacity in directing the implementation of theprogramme.

Localitiesacross the province will step up communications campaigns on the programme,while adjusting its policy to ensure the efficiency of the work, and givingadequate resources for production development and build new models.

In the2016-2020 period, districts will complete regional planning to match criteriaof the programme. Investment in public works will be managed efficiently to avoidwastefulness.

Tran DucNang, deputy chief of the coordination office for new-style rural area buildingof Thanh Hoa, said that the province has raised over 5,900 billion VND (260million USD) to upgrade 857km of rural roads, 216km of canals, 85 irrigationworks, 1,512 classrooms, 95km transformer stations and 335km low-voltagetransmission lines.

In addition,94 cultural houses, and 11,957 houses for locals have been built. So far, theprovince has had 241 new-style rural communes, along with 115 communescompleting 15-18 criteria.

The national target programme on building new-style rural areas,initiated by the Vietnamese Government in 2010, sets 19 criteria on socio-economicdevelopment, politics, and defence, aiming to boost rural regions ofVietnam.     

The list of criteria includes the development ofinfrastructure, the improvement of production capacity, environmentalprotection, and the promotion of cultural values.      

According to the Ministryof Agriculture and Rural Development, by February 21, 2018, there were 3,160communes nationwide recognised as new-style rural areas, 35.4 percent of the totalcommunes.-VNA