Dien Hai (Dien Chau): 'Holding' more than 250 million VND in support money for farmers in 6 years

(Baonghean.vn) - Although the State supported more than 250 million VND for damage caused by floods and severe cold, farmers in Dien Hai commune still only know that amount on paper even though 6 years have passed. The amount withdrawn from the commune budget has also "lost" nearly 100 million VND.

On October 4, 2011, Nghe An Provincial People's Committee issued Decision No. 2057 approving the list of support for agricultural production recovery after storm No. 2 caused floods for 1,427 households/10 villages in Dien Hai commune with an amount of more than 148 million VND.

Next, Dien Chau District People's Committee also issued Decision No. 833 on funding support to restore agricultural production damaged by the September 2011 flood (phase 2) for 613 households with an amount of more than 50 million VND. Along with that, Decision No. 835 on funding support for peanut seeds to restore production after severe cold in the 2011 Spring crop (phase 2) supported 697 households with a total amount of more than 40 million VND. All three of the above Decisions supported farmers of Dien Hai Agricultural Cooperative with a total amount of 259 million VND.

For more than 6 years, Dien Hai residents have not received support money (a corner of Dien Hai commune). Photo by Ngo Hoang.

After the decision, Dien Hai commune withdrew money from the treasury twice with the amount of 136 million VND, transferred 40 million VND to the budget of Dien Hai Agricultural Cooperative, leaving more than 95 million VND in the commune budget. Up to now, the commune has not yet completed the procedures to withdraw 122 million VND to pay the people. The amount of 40 million VND transferred to the cooperative has not been paid to the people even though more than 6 years have passed. The representative of Dien Hai Agricultural Cooperative said that because the amount was not enough, the payment has not been made, it is still in the cooperative's account.

On February 9, 2017, the monitoring delegation of the People's Council of Dien Hai commune had a working session on this issue, concluding: The People's Committee and the Commune Finance Committee have not yet organized the payment of support money to the people according to the above decisions, which is contrary to regulations and lacks responsibility to the people. The monitoring committee requested the Commune People's Committee to clarify the reason why it did not withdraw the amount of 122 million from the treasury as decided by the District People's Committee. The total amount withdrawn in 2 installments is 136 million, so why has it not been paid to the people yet?

Report of the People's Council's monitoring delegation on the failure to pay flood and natural disaster relief money to people. Photo by Ngo Hoang.

Regarding this issue, Mr. Phan Van Thuyen - Chairman of Dien Hai Commune People's Committee said that these decisions were made in 2011 by the old government to withdraw money and pay people, but have not been implemented yet. He has just taken office as commune chairman, so he just learned about it, and it has not been resolved yet.

Mr. Thuyen added, “The principle of receiving money from the budget is to pay it to the people, but until now it has not been paid, which is against the principle. The district is asking the commune to balance revenue sources to pay it to the people as soon as possible…”.

It is known that at that time, Mr. Tran Van Tien held the position of Chairman of Dien Hai commune and directly directed this work. Currently, Mr. Tien is holding the position of Secretary of the Commune Party Committee.

The rights of the people who were damaged, supported by the State, have not been received after more than 6 years. We request the People's Committee of Dien Chau district and relevant agencies to promptly investigate the case and transfer the support money to the farmers./.

Ngo Hoang