Project 600 and the risk of young intellectuals becoming unemployed.

(Baonghean) - After 5 years, the members of the Pilot Project to select 600 outstanding young intellectuals with university degrees to serve as vice chairmen of the People's Committees of poor communes (referred to as Project 600) have proven their contributions. However, after the pilot program ended, these young intellectuals are at risk of unemployment due to difficulties in finding suitable jobs for them.

Contributions

Vi Viet Kieu is the Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Tam Thai commune - one of the 12 members of Project 600 implemented in Tuong Duong district. For five years, Vi Viet Kieu has dedicated himself to his work, contributing to Tam Thai commune's achievement of the new rural development goals and the increasingly developed local socio-economic conditions. Mr. Kha Van Thanh, who was guided by Vi Viet Kieu in developing his family's economy and achieving prosperity through livestock farming, said: "Vice Chairman Vi Viet Kieu has done many things that earn the respect of the villagers."

Vice Chairman of Tam Thai commune (Tuong Duong district), Vi Viet Kieu (far right), visits a local fish cage farming model. Photo: Hoai Thu

In Tuong Duong district, there are 12 team members working in 12 communes. According to Comrade Pham Trong Hoang, Secretary of the District Party Committee, "the team members of Project 600 have advised the commune People's Committees on issuing working regulations; effectively implemented administrative reform; built and implemented internal spending regulations... contributing to changing the awareness of officials and civil servants regarding the performance of duties and public service, gradually changing the working style and conduct of commune-level officials and civil servants."

In Ky Son district, eight team members hold the position of Vice Chairman in eight communes such as Pha Danh, Huoi Tu, Bao Thang, Muong Long, etc. Evaluating the work capacity of each of these team members, Comrade Vi Hoe - Secretary of the Ky Son District Party Committee, said: “The young vice chairmen under Project 600 have helped strengthen close and open relationships with grassroots officials; gradually fostering a spirit of mutual support among officials in the communes in their work and lives.”

They respect and listen to the opinions of their superiors, colleagues, and the people. They also set a good example by upholding organizational discipline, effectively implementing the principle of democratic centralism; their work style is quick and efficient, their methods are scientific, and they are not afraid of difficulties or hardships, thus spreading their influence to those around them. Many have excellently fulfilled their roles and made significant contributions to the community, such as Le Dinh Tai in Pha Danh commune, Ha Ba Ly in Huoi Tu commune, Vi Van Duy in Bao Nam commune; Luu Duc Cuong in Tay Son commune...”.

Speaking about the contributions of Lo Thi Tra My - Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Xa Luong commune, a member of Project 600, Comrade Loc Quoc Viet - Secretary of the Party Committee of Xa Luong commune, Tuong Duong district, said: “Ms. Tra My has been working in the commune for 5 years, effectively in charge of agriculture and forestry; she has advised and helped people change the crop structure from rice to short-term vegetables; reclaimed land to plant wet rice in flat areas such as in Na Be village. In particular, she has actively promoted the reforestation movement. To date, the area of ​​reforestation has reached over 95% of the plan (20.9 hectares); cassava cultivation has reached 105% of the plan (21/20 hectares planned).”

Ms. Lo Thi Tra My (far right), Vice Chairwoman of the People's Committee of Xa Luong commune (Tuong Duong district), participates in road construction. Photo: Hoai Thu

Most members of Project 600, upon returning to work at the grassroots level, are assigned to economic development, the most important area helping localities escape poverty and gradually improve the lives of the people. And most members, upon taking up their positions, have studied the local situation and offered advice on various economic development methods, building effective and successful models.

This primarily involves guiding people to diversify their crop structure with types of plants suitable to the local climate and soil conditions, while also developing livestock farming models appropriate for mountainous districts. For example, in Chau Kim commune, Que Phong district, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee Ha Minh Tuan, a member of Project 600, advised and guided villagers to switch from low-yield rice cultivation to growing vegetables and fruits according to the "seasonal produce" principle. To date, the entire commune has 5 hectares of clean vegetable cultivation; many households raise chickens and goats, providing them with a fairly stable income.

For example, in Huoi Tu commune, Ky Son district, according to the assessment of the Party Secretary of Trung Tam village, Vu Va Chong, Ha Ba Ly, a member of Project 600 and Vice Chairman of the commune, has made many contributions to helping the village gradually develop its economy and achieve higher incomes. Ha Ba Ly has advised and guided people in applying science and technology to production and livestock farming, selecting suitable and highly effective plant and animal breeds. Currently, Huoi Tu commune has nearly 500 hectares of tea plantations and a total cattle herd of 3,000, helping people feel secure in their work and gradually escape poverty. "Along with Ha Ba Ly, many members of Project 600 working in Ky Son have contributed to significantly improving the lives of the people, especially in applying science and technology to agricultural production," said Comrade Vi Hoe, Secretary of the Ky Son District Party Committee.

Difficulties that need to be overcome.

In Nghe An province, 26 people were selected to hold the position of deputy chairman of communes in three mountainous districts: Ky Son (8 people), Tuong Duong (12 people), and Que Phong (5 people). Of these, 24/26 people were assigned to be in charge of the economic sector.

Deputy Chairman of Chau Kim Commune People's Committee (Que Phong District), Ha Minh Tuan, inspects administrative records at the office. Photo: Hoai Thu.

The young intellectuals working in the poor communes of the 30a districts under Project 600 mostly accepted their jobs with the mindset of young, ambitious individuals determined to contribute. They were ready to overcome difficulties and hardships in their work, immersing themselves in the grassroots, and were recognized by the local Party committees and authorities. However, alongside this, they also faced many challenges.

According to a survey and assessment by the Ministry of Interior at the conference evaluating the results of Project 600 in the North Central provinces, "some places still have the mentality that after the project ends, the team members will be returned to their superiors for placement and use, thus not creating real conditions for team members to train, strive, and mature; they do not trust the team members and are not bold enough to plan for them to be placed in leadership and management positions at the local level." By 2017, after 5 years of pilot implementation, Project 600 officially ended.

This means that project team members are facing the risk of unemployment as many places have yet to find positions to assign these individuals. Regarding this issue, Mr. Dau Van Thanh, Director of the Department of Internal Affairs, stated: “Currently, the project has ended. Besides Tuong Duong district, where 12 out of 12 project team members have been assigned to continue serving as vice-chairmen of communes, in the remaining two districts of Ky Son and Que Phong, only 3 out of 13 team members have been assigned to continue their work. The rest have not been assigned due to the lack of available positions.”

Furthermore, although in Tuong Duong district, the team members have been re-planned and appointed to the position of vice chairman of the commune People's Committee, the district is currently facing difficulties regarding the management and utilization mechanism for these officials (recruited under Project 600) and needs guidance from relevant agencies to ensure the rights of the team members.

Reflecting on this situation, Mr. Lang Van Minh, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Que Phong district, stated: "In Que Phong, all 5/5 members of Project 600 have been planned for key positions by the commune Party committee and government. Two members in Que Son and Dong Van communes were elected as Vice Chairmen of the commune People's Committees for the 2016-2021 term. However, due to the implementation of the downsizing policy according to Decree 108/CP and the Law on Organization of Local Government, the placement and utilization of the remaining members after the project ends face certain difficulties. We request that the Central and provincial authorities establish specific regulations and policies regarding job placement for the remaining members after the project concludes."

This is also the common proposal not only of Nghe An province but also of all provinces in the North Central region regarding the continued arrangement of work for Project 600 team members with the aim of developing their abilities and capabilities, helping poor communes in border districts of the province gradually improve their living standards; and at the same time helping to continue implementing an effective policy issued by the Party and the State.

Hoai Thu