Removing dilapidated houses for veterans in Hai Duong

The solid roofs built not only help poor veterans ease their worries about making a living, but also spread the steadfast comradeship in peacetime.

The spacious new house of Mr. Nguyen Van Dan and Mrs. Dang Thi Ben in Uong Ha village, Minh Tan commune (Nam Sach)

From 1,000 VND savings

At the age of over 90, Mr. Nguyen Van Cham in Dong Lai village, Ung Hoe commune (Ninh Giang) was moved when living in a new house. Before that, he lived alone in a house with a rotten tiled roof, peeling walls, low floor, and leaking every time it rained. Due to the family's difficult economic situation , his children were not able to support him.

The dream of having a solid roof seemed far-fetched, but with 25 million VND in support from the “Savings for Comrades’ House” Fund, along with the help of former comrades and local authorities, the 30m² house was repaired, re-roofed with cold corrugated iron, insulated foam ceiling, and neatly plastered walls. The amount of money was not large, but it contained deep affection.

Mr. Cham (in blue shirt) was happy and excited when the Ninh Giang District Veterans Association supported him to repair his house.

Not far away is the house of Mrs. Bui Thi Vy in Do Xa village. When she was young, she was a Vietnamese volunteer soldier on duty in Cambodia. Returning to civilian life, she and her husband worked hard, and their economy gradually improved. However, an accident happened, and the two-story house and all of the family's assets had to be sold, leaving only a dilapidated level 4 house. Thanks to the Ninh Giang District Veterans Association, the house was repaired, giving her peace of mind in her old age.

Mrs. Vy feels secure in her new house, which is no longer flooded during heavy rains.

Ms. Vy shared: "I am the only one living in this house. Before, the house was low, so whenever it rained, water from the street would flow down into the house. The house was low, so I had to bend down to get in and out. Life was hard. I was very excited to have my teammates care for me and help me repair my house. Now, I no longer have to worry about wading through a flooded house."

Mr. Cham's and Ms. Vy's houses are just two of dozens of comrades' houses supported by the Veterans Association of Hai Duong province at all levels.

Mr. Nguyen Dang Siu, Chairman of the Ninh Giang District Veterans Association, said that from 2023 to now, the "Saving for Comrades' Houses" movement has achieved positive results. 41 "Comrades' Love" houses have been built with a total support of more than 3.2 billion VND. Of which, the Ninh Giang District Veterans Association supported the repair and construction of 27 houses with a total amount of nearly 900 million VND.

"With the spirit of loyalty to the country and steadfast comradeship, more than 10,000 cadres and members of the district's veteran association have participated, each member saving 1,000 VND/year. However, thanks to this movement, many members have donated more than the regulations, especially retired and working senior military officers. Thanks to that, the movement's funds have increased rapidly. Up to now, Ninh Giang district is honored to be the first unit in the province to complete the demolition of dilapidated houses for members," Mr. Siu added.

The Ninh Giang District Veterans Association is the first unit in the province to implement the demolition of dilapidated houses for its members. With only 1,000 VND in savings, more and more "Comradely Love" houses have been built, helping poor members to ease their difficulties.

Bonding camaraderie

Having a new house, Mrs. Ben (Mr. Nguyen Van Dan's wife) and her grandchildren are happy in the new house.

After many years of living in a dilapidated old house, Mr. Nguyen Van Dan's family in Uong Ha village, Minh Tan commune (Nam Sach) has now settled down in a new, spacious house thanks to the support of his former comrades and the local government. The house was repaired at a total cost of more than 70 million VND, of which the district and commune veterans' association supported nearly 30 million VND.

The renovated house is not only structurally solid but also spacious, creating more convenient living conditions for his family. Since having a new home, every weekend, his children and grandchildren gather together. “My wife and I never thought we would have a house like this. With the whole family gathered in a cozy house, we feel life is more meaningful than ever,” Mr. Dan emotionally shared.

In addition to financial support, veteran members also support labor days to join hands to eliminate temporary and dilapidated houses.

Since 2019, the Veterans Association of Hai Duong province has launched a movement to support the "Comradely Love" Fund, contributing 2.4 billion VND to build 34 new houses and repair 12 houses for poor members. Since then, the movement has not only been maintained but also strongly developed in localities.

To date, over 300 houses have been newly built and repaired with a total support of over 19 billion VND from the support fund of the Veterans Association at all levels. Since the beginning of the year, the association has mobilized support to repair and build 56 new houses, contributing to the implementation of the Program "Eliminating temporary and dilapidated houses" with local Party committees and authorities in the province. Each newly built house is supported with 80 million VND, each repaired house is supported with 30 million VND, and in some cases, more support. In addition to financial support, thousands of construction days and construction materials have been jointly provided by veteran members and socio- political organizations.

Each newly built house is supported with 80 million VND by the Provincial Veterans Association.

Mr. Dinh Van Truy, Chairman of the Veterans Association of Hai Duong province, shared: “We used to fight together for the Fatherland. Now that we have returned to civilian life, helping each other overcome difficulties is also natural. Although the amount of support is not much, it is the crystallization of comradeship, the sharing between those who have gone through life and death, and now continue to fight side by side in peacetime life.”

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Source: https://baohaiduong.vn/xoa-nha-dot-nat-cho-cuu-chien-binh-o-hai-duong-415136.html