Project 600 and the risk of young intellectual unemployment

(Baonghean) - After 5 years, the members of the Pilot Project to select 600 excellent young intellectuals with enhanced university degrees to become vice chairmen of People's Committees of poor communes (called Project 600) have affirmed their contributions. However, after the end of the pilot work, the young intellectuals are at risk of unemployment due to difficulties in arranging jobs for them.

Contributions

Vi Viet Kieu is Vice Chairman of Tam Thai Commune People's Committee - one of 12 members of Project 600 deployed in Tuong Duong district. After 5 years of hard work, Vi Viet Kieu has contributed to helping Tam Thai commune reach the new rural finish line, the local socio-economic development is increasingly developing. Mr. Kha Van Thanh, who was guided by Vi Viet Kieu to develop his family's economy, becoming well-off through livestock farming, said: "Vice Chairman of the commune Vi Viet Kieu has done many things that make the villagers respect him."

Vice Chairman of Tam Thai Commune (Tuong Duong) Vi Viet Kieu (far right) visits the fish cage farming model of the people. Photo: Hoai Thu

In Tuong Duong district, there are 12 team members working in 12 communes. According to the assessment of comrade Pham Trong Hoang - Secretary of the District Party Committee, "the team members of Project 600 have advised the Commune People's Committee to issue working regulations; carry out administrative reform well; develop and implement internal spending regulations... contributing to changing the awareness of civil servants towards performing tasks and public duties, gradually changing the working style of commune-level cadres and civil servants".

In Ky Son district, there are 8 team members holding the position of Vice Chairmen of 8 communes such as Pha Danh, Huoi Tu, Bao Thang, Muong Long... Evaluating the working capacity of each individual team member, comrade Vi Hoe - Secretary of Ky Son District Party Committee, said: "The young vice chairmen of Project 600 have helped strengthen close and open relationships with grassroots civil servants; gradually forming for civil servants of the communes a spirit of mutual support in work and life.

Respect and listen to the opinions of superiors, colleagues and people. They also set an example in upholding the spirit of discipline and organization, implementing the principle of democratic centralism well; working quickly, working scientifically, not afraid of difficulties and hardships, so they have spread to those around them. Many people have excellently fulfilled their roles and contributed to the grassroots, 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...

Talking about the contributions of Lo Thi Tra My - Vice Chairman of the Commune People's Committee, 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, in charge of agriculture and forestry very effectively; has advised people to change the crop structure from rice to short-term vegetables; reclaim land to grow rice in flat areas such as in Na Be village. In particular, she has actively promoted the afforestation movement. Up to now, the afforestation area has reached more than 95% of the plan (20.9ha); cassava has reached 105% of the plan (21/20ha of the plan)".

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

Most of the Project 600 team members when working at the grassroots level are assigned to be in charge of economic development, this is the most important field to help localities escape poverty, gradually improve people's lives. And most of the team members when they come to work have learned about the grassroots level and consulted on many ways to develop the economy, building good and effective models.

The main focus is on guiding people to change their crop structure with plants suitable for local climate and soil conditions, while building livestock models suitable 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, has advised and guided villagers to switch from ineffective rice cultivation to growing vegetables, tubers and fruits in the direction of "seasonal food". Up to now, the whole commune has 5 hectares of clean vegetables; many households raise chickens and goats for a fairly stable income.

Or in Huoi Tu commune, Ky Son district, according to the assessment of the Party Secretary of Trung Tam village Vu Va Chong, the Project 600 team member, Vice Chairman of the commune, Ha Ba Ly, has made many contributions to help the village gradually develop its economy for high income. Ha Ba Ly has advised and guided people to apply science and technology in production, livestock breeding, and select suitable and highly effective seedlings. Currently, the whole Huoi Tu commune has nearly 500 hectares of tea, with a total herd of 3,000 cows, helping people feel secure in doing business and gradually escape poverty. "Along with Ha Ba Ly, many Project 600 team members working in Ky Son have contributed to significantly improving people's lives, especially in applying science and technology in agricultural production," said Comrade Vi Hoe - Secretary of Ky Son District Party Committee.

Difficulties to be resolved

Nghe An has 26 people elected to hold the position of vice chairman of communes in 3 mountainous districts including Ky Son (8 people), Tuong Duong (12 people) and Que Phong (5 people). Of these, 24/26 people are assigned to be in charge of the economic sector.

Vice Chairman of Chau Kim Commune People's Committee (Que Phong) Ha Minh Tuan checks administrative books at the agency. Photo: Hoai Thu

The young intellectuals of Project 600 working in poor communes of District 30a mostly accept the job with the mindset of a young person, with ambition and determination to contribute. They are willing to overcome difficulties and hardships in their work, struggle with the grassroots, and are recognized by local Party committees and authorities. However, they also encounter many difficulties.

According to the survey and assessment of the Ministry of Home Affairs at the Conference to evaluate the implementation results of Project 600 in the provinces of the North Central region, "some places still have the mentality that after the project ends, team members will be returned to their superiors for arrangement and use, thus not creating real conditions for team members to practice, strive, and mature; not trusting team members, not boldly arranging them to hold leadership and management positions in the locality". 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 not found positions to arrange work for these subjects. Talking about this issue, Comrade Dau Van Thanh - Director of the Department of Home Affairs said: "The project has now ended, in addition to Tuong Duong district, which has arranged 12/12 project team members to continue holding the position of commune vice chairman, in the remaining 2 districts, Ky Son and Que Phong, only 3/13 team members have been arranged to continue working. The rest have not been arranged because there are no positions yet".

Besides, although in Tuong Duong district, team members have continued to be planned and arranged for the position of vice chairman of the commune People's Committee, the district is still facing difficulties in the management and use mechanism for these cadres (recruited under Project 600) and needs guidance from relevant agencies to ensure the rights of team members.

Also reflecting on this situation, comrade Lang Van Minh - Vice Chairman of Que Phong District People's Committee said: "In Que Phong, 5/5 members of Project 600 were planned by the Party Committee and the commune government for key positions, with 2 members in Que Son and Dong Van communes elected as Vice Chairmen of the Commune People's Committee for the 2016-2021 term. However, due to the implementation of the policy of streamlining the payroll according to Decree 108/CP and the Law on Organization of Local Government, the arrangement and use of the remaining members after the Project ends will encounter certain difficulties. It is recommended that the Central and provincial levels have specific regulations and policies on job placement for the members after the Project ends."

That is also the common proposal of not only Nghe An province but also the provinces in the North Central region for the direction of continuing to arrange work for Project 600 team members with the aim of promoting the ability and capacity of the team members, helping poor communes in the border districts of the province to gradually become prosperous; at the same time, helping to continue to maintain the implementation of an effective policy issued by the Party and State.

Hoai Thu