VietNamNet Bridge – In many localities, over 90 percent of households are recognized as “cultured family”. Local government cannot afford to print enough certificates, while many households in “cultured villages” have to suffer from ridiculous regulations.
In the criteria for cultured villages applied by Phu Hoa District, Phu Yen Province, the villages that are recognized as “cultured” must “well manage music bands, karaoke bars, singing activities and even karaoke at home.”
A woman in Hoa An Commune said that last week, her family had a party. Her children wanted to hire some musicians for the party but she did not agree because if they hired musicians, not only her family but also her village would not be recognized as “cultured.”
Mr. Phan Thanh Dien, cultural officer of Hoa An Commune, said that local people have to get the commune authorities’ permission to sing or organizing singing activities at family events. However, singing is something personal needs so this rule is easily be broken.
Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Dang Khoa, Vice Chair of Hoa An Commune, explained that the above rules are based on Circular 12 of the Ministry of Culture – Sports and Tourism on the recognition of cultured families and cultured villages. However, each district compiles its own criteria to “be consistent” with the local situation.
What is “consistent” with local situation? Nobody knows for sure. For example, in Phu Hoa District, singing karaoke without permission is a violation while in Tuy Hoa City, streets are still rated as “cultured” although they let’s candy vendors play music loudly on the street at night.
No money to print “cultured family” certificates
Some local officials admitted that it was a movement to get the “cultured” title. Based on Circular 12 of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the percentages of “cultured” households, villages and streets would have been low.
Mr. Duong Nghi – chief of Phu My village in Tam Dan commune, Phu Ninh district, Quang Nam province – boasted that her village had recently been recognized as “cultured”.
Nghi said that nearly 90 % of households in the village earned the title. A few years ago, his village failed to win the recognition because some people had the 3rd child.
According to the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Quang Nam province, by the end of 2012, the province had 307,076 “cultured families,” accounting for 81.4%, of which almost 67% had been the “cultured families” for at least three consecutive years. The rate of cultured households rises year after year.
In Ward 3, Tuy Hoa City, Phu Yen Province, Ms. Pham Thi Thuy Vi – Chair of the Fatherland Front Committee and the Steering Committee of the campaign “All people unite to build cultured life in residential areas,” said the ward had recognized over 1,300 cultured families of the total nearly 1,700 families in the ward.
Under regulations, these families would be rewarded but the ward authorities did not have enough funds for this, so they selected 24 typical families to receive the rewards of VND20,000 ($1) and VND50,000 ($2.5).
“Because there are so many cultured families, our ward could not afford printing of certificates,” she lamented.
Ca Mau – an exception
In many localities, the “cultured” title is formalistic but in the southern province of Ca Mau, the authorities advocate removing the vanities.
Mr. Duong Hoang Giang – an official of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Ca Mau province – said that previously, the province had 90% of families rated as “cultured.” This figure did not reflect reality.
In July 2012, Ca Mau province issued new regulations and criteria on the “cultured” title, including a vote for “cultured families” of local residents. The “cultured families” don’t need to hang a certificate board in front of their house and they will receive the certificate if they win the title for three consecutive years.
“Under the new regulations, it is not easy to win the title so the people attach more importance to it,” said Giang.
NLD
Đăng ký: VietNam News