Chongqing- This year marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China. Recently, in celebration of the Party Centenary, outstanding members and secretaries from grassroots organizations in Chongqing have been invited to share their vivid stories of putting the people first as they implement Party decisions and mobilize the public to realize a better life.
In the first of a series of meetings, three outstanding party secretaries who have made great achievements in managing and revitalizing antiquated neighborhoods across Chongqing met with the press to share their feelings and experiences.
Achievements recognized in grassroots communities
Cheng Yan is secretary of the Zhongshan 2nd Road Party Committee of the Lianglukou Neighborhood in Yuzhong District. Having lived in the community for 20 years, she has not wavered in her aspirations and has continually strived forward as the community has received honors such as the ‘Most Beautiful and Liveable Neighborhood of Chongqing Municipality.’
She insists on communicating with people on the ground to innovate in the field of property management, as they effectively resolved the long-standing issues of outdated facilities, hidden dangers, and an unhygienic environment. Cheng Yan has always taken the needs of residents as her personal cause for action on the road to success.
In order to solve property management issues in the antiquated community, she took the lead in establishing the Sunshine Property Service Center on Zhongshan 2nd Road, where she currently serves as chairwoman. She subsequently led the election of supervisory board members and formed a neighborhood committee to coordinate all parties in dealing with the interests of community residents.
Party Committee secretary Cheng Yan addresses the audience as she describes her experiences of managing the Lianglukou Neighborhood of Yuzhong District, Chongqing.
In the field of management, she implemented a clear framework of positions and responsibilities in a Single Network Management approach to community health, facilities, greenery, and order. This measure helped refine public sanitation, urban appearance, and environmental protection.
Personalized services were set up through a four-tier telephone system within the community, a clear structure for responsibility, follow-up visits, and cost-effective residential services, including repairs for household appliances and home assistance for residents in need.
Necessary improvements were coordinated by property management in the formerly neglected community, such as lined parking spaces on the main road allocated for residents, while all income they received was invested in the maintenance of public facilities.
The dedication of Cheng Yan has led to multiple awards and recognition.
She also helped set up a local community college for residents with a focus on the young and old so that the elderly can enjoy lifelong learning and the youth can foster new skills. There is now an average of 14,000 trainees per year that has led to the formation of 20 social organizations and the ability to start up a business without leaving the neighborhood.
Cheng Yan looked back on her work with pride. ‘The community is the final straight when serving the grassroots level of society. I am proud to work in the community and achieve great things from an ordinary position. I will keep to my principles and mission from when I joined the Party, and I’ll do my best for the residents.’
Her dedication to the community has led to successive awards, including the Demonstration Community for Grassroots Organization Construction from the All-China Women’s Federation, the Model for Civilized Communities in Chongqing.
Residents are deeply moved by decisive action
Yang Chunmin is a Party Committee secretary and director of the Tuanjieba Neighborhood Residents Committee in Shapingba District. Over the past 17 years, she has stood firmly for the interests of residents through a people-centered approach.
She has succeeded in rejuvenating the antiquated community by uniting the residents behind her model of property management to paint a picture of social harmony, as the resolution of the conflict has always been key for Yang Chunmin, a challenge she has never backed away from.
On first arriving in the community, she encountered many closed doors as the residents were initially unsupportive of her goals. However, one measure that unlocked the door to their hearts was clearing out an 8-meter deep pit which had long been a dumping ground for putrid household waste.
Yang Chunmin won the hearts and minds of residents in the Shijingpo Neighborhood of Shapingba District by personally resolving environmental sanitation issues in the local area.
‘Residents told me directly that the community is so dirty and that we can talk if we do a good job in environmental sanitation. Since everyone was dissatisfied because of this, I decided the resolve the situation myself.’
With the help of a colleague and length of rope, she climbed down into the pit and removed the wastebasket by basket over a number of days until it was all cleared.
Thereafter, many residents looked upon her with great admiration and gained a strong willingness to communicate with 'Secretary Yang' as she strived to revitalize the community. Later, she launched multiple initiatives such as the My Community My Home and Two Residential Meetings so that residents could play an active role in handling community affairs and strengthen their enthusiasm in joint governance.
Yang Chunmin holds a residential committee meeting that now attracts enthusiastic participation thanks to her dedicated efforts.
In response to unattended children of prisoners, elderly residents living alone, and the number of unemployed, Yang Chunmin launched a trio of residential services named Sunshine, Warm, and Hand-in-Hand, where Party members organized to play the role of caring parents and children for them.
Yang Chunmin proactively registered the employment needs of residents on an individual basis and recommended them to companies. In this way, she helped over 400 unemployed residents find new jobs as the Tuanjieba Neighborhood gained recognition as an Excellent Fully Employed Community in Chongqing.
Acknowledgment from residents strengthens the conviction
Xiao He joined the Communist Party of China in January 2007. He is currently a Party Committee secretary and is director of the Yuneng Sunshine Neighborhood Residential Committee at Wulidian, Jiangbei District.
He has always followed the motto Adhering to Principles and Knowing the Mission. As a steadfast and conscientious individual, Xiao He has won unanimous praise from community residents alike.
Past failures in the neighborhood stemmed from a crisis of trust amongst the residential committee. Since the time he became director, Party Committee strengthened guidance for property management and security staff to eradicate arbitrary behavior and decisions.
Xiao He overcame reservations from his family over his choice of career but now feels vindicated thanks to the acknowledgment of local residents.
They subsequently performed home visits to more than 2,700 residents to carefully explain procedures and took responsibility for amassing their opinions and suggestions.
The General Party Branch of the neighborhood offered reliable support for new communication platforms such as WeChat Mini Programs, which integrated the functions of online meetings, feedback, suggestions, and neighborly relations as part of a one-click cloud system that is convenient to use, and has won unanimous praise from residents.
Smooth operations in the Residential Committee have also brought proceeds for investment in the community. This year, public revenue amounting to nearly 300,000 yuan was raised from January to March this year, which saw new investment into property facilities, the addition of 287 new lined parking spaces, and the repairs of the north entrance. After years of dereliction, it was finally renovated to the delight and improved safety of residents.
Xiao He personally visited all households in the local community to establish a residential committee and improved services by releasing an easy-to-use Wechat application.
During the press meeting, Xiao He explained that his family was not initially convinced by his career choice, but he always felt a great conviction to improve life in the community he serves. Finally, his success and praise from residents offered them reassurance.
‘When I visit the community, residents often come to say, Secretary Xiao; I haven't seen you for such a long time! Their words tell me they appreciate the work we’ve done, and I will stay in this job until retirement. I feel really happy whenever I see the residents smiling or hear their words of acknowledgment.’