Overcoming the situation where people need policies, have money but cannot spend it

Working scene. Photo: MH

On the morning of June 14, the working group of the National Assembly Supervisory Delegation had a working session with the Provincial People's Committee and relevant provincial departments, branches and sectors on the implementation of three national target programs on new rural construction, sustainable poverty reduction and socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas in the province.

The National Assembly working group is headed by Comrade Tran Thi Thanh Lam - Standing Member of the National Assembly's Social Committee, Head of the working group.

Also participating in the working group were comrades: Cao Thi Xuan - Vice Chairwoman of the National Assembly's Ethnic Council; Thai Thi An Chung - Member of the Provincial Party Executive Committee, Deputy Head of the Provincial National Assembly Delegation; and representative of the Standing Committee of the Provincial People's Council.

Working directly with the working group, on the side of the Provincial People's Committee, there was comrade Bui Dinh Long - Member of the Provincial Party Executive Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, Head of the Provincial Steering Committee for the implementation of three national target programs; leaders of provincial departments, branches and sectors.

Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Bui Dinh Long reported to the working group on the results and some difficulties and problems arising in the implementation of three national target programs. Photo: MH

100% CAPITAL ALLOCATION

According to the report of the Provincial People's Committee, to implement the National Assembly's resolutions on three national target programs: new rural construction, sustainable poverty reduction, and socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas, from the provincial to district levels, steering committees were established and commune levels established management boards according to regulations.

Based on the National Assembly's resolutions and documents and regulations of the Central Government, combined with local practices, the Provincial People's Committee has advised the Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial People's Council to issue policies and resolutions; and has proactively issued many decisions, plans and instructions for implementation.

Comrade Cao Thi Xuan - Vice Chairwoman of the National Assembly's Ethnic Council is interested in the organizational model for implementing the three programs. Photo: MH

The allocation of budget capital was carried out methodically, in accordance with regulations and achieved 100% of the Government's plan with more than 4,931 billion VND (excluding additional sources awaiting approval by the Provincial People's Council at the next session).

In addition to central capital, the province also actively arranges counterpart capital from the local budget (the new rural construction program in 2022 - 2023 alone is more than 1,648 billion VND) and mobilizes socialized resources from businesses and communities to participate in implementing three national target programs.

Deputy Head of the Provincial National Assembly Delegation, Thai Thi An Chung, requested the Provincial People's Committee and relevant departments and branches to clarify difficulties in implementing Circular 12 of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development related to support for special-use forest areas. Photo: MH

Along with capital allocation, propaganda, training and guidance for staff directly implementing programs of interest, especially at district and commune levels, are given attention; community responsibility for participating in program implementation is enhanced.

Through the implementation of the three programs, infrastructure in rural areas, especially in ethnic minority and mountainous areas, has improved significantly, contributing to promoting economic development; preserving, conserving and promoting the cultural values ​​of the nation; improving and enhancing the material and spiritual life of the people.

Head of the Ethnic Affairs Committee of the Provincial People's Council Lo Thi Kim Ngan requested the Provincial People's Committee to pay attention to training and professional development for cadres, especially at the grassroots level. Photo: MH

The results of the implementation of the new rural development program, in addition to developing in breadth, have become increasingly in-depth and substantial through promoting the attraction of businesses to invest in agriculture and rural areas; developing cooperatives, production cooperation groups, sustainable livelihood models, OCOP products with 403 products; taking care to improve the living environment in rural areas...

The province currently has 309/411 communes meeting new rural standards, reaching 75.18%; 53 communes meeting advanced new rural standards; 7 district-level units and 197 villages and hamlets meeting new rural standards. The province is also focusing on directing the development of Nam Dan district to become a model rural district.

Poverty reduction in the province is both fast and sustainable; the poverty reduction rate reaches 1-1.5% per year, in line with the plan assigned by the Central Government.

Socio-economic development work in ethnic minority and mountainous areas is given priority and focus by all levels in the province, creating conditions to narrow the gap in living conditions and standards between ethnic minority and mountainous areas and the plains.

Deputy Director of the Department of Planning and Investment Phan Van Hoan explained the reason for not allocating additional central capital. Photo: MH

MANY DIFFICULTIES AND PROBLEMS

At the meeting, leaders of the Provincial People's Committee and a number of departments, branches and sectors also reflected and clarified many difficulties and obstacles in the process of directing the implementation and organization of the three national target programs. The outstanding issue is the low disbursement rate, especially the career capital source, which is due to the fact that the system of documents of the central ministries and branches has not been supplemented, adjusted and guided in a timely manner, creating a legal basis for local implementation.

For example, there are no criteria to determine household income or to determine some contents of educational support orientation and labor export, leading to no objects for disbursement. This leads to people really needing policies, while having money but not being able to spend it.

Director of the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs Doan Hong Vu explains and clarifies some issues on poverty reduction. Photo: MH

Some regulations require localities to issue them while there are no guiding documents and there is no precedent for local implementation. Such as the mechanism of revolving part of the support capital in cash or in kind to circulate within the community; the mechanism of integrating capital sources between national target programs, between national target programs and other programs and projects in the area.

In addition, according to Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Bui Dinh Long, Nghe An province determined that national target programs and investment resources from important resource programs, especially resources focused on difficult areas of the province, if well implemented, will promote the socio-economic development of the province as well as each locality.

However, currently, the system of decrees, circulars, and instructions of the Government and central ministries and branches for application and implementation is too numerous; some contents even do not have a legal basis for implementation.

Head of the Provincial Ethnic Minorities Committee Vi Van Son explained a number of issues related to the socio-economic development program for ethnic minority and mountainous areas that the working group was interested in. Photo: MH

Along with the common, Nghe An is considered a mountainous province with plain districts covering more than 83% of the area and has 11 mountainous districts, towns and ethnic minority areas; socio-economic conditions as well as people's living standards are still difficult, mobilizing people's participation in programs from money, goods, and working days is limited.

On the other hand, the level and capacity of management, direction, operation and implementation of programs and projects of the staff, especially at the grassroots level, have certain limitations. The arrangement of counterpart funds to implement projects, especially in districts and communes of ethnic minorities, is extremely difficult...

Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Ho Phi Trieu explained and clarified some issues of concern to the working group. Photo: MH

From the practical situation, the Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee proposed that the working group recommend to the National Assembly to propose to the Government to direct central ministries and branches to develop specific procedures and methods for implementing programs on the basis of integrating decrees, circulars, and instructions, creating favorable conditions for local levels.

Comrade Bui Dinh Long also answered a number of issues raised by the working group related to the organizational model for implementing the programs; training and guidance for officials at all levels to implement the programs; inspection and supervision work to promptly remove practical obstacles, and at the same time correct violations (if any)...

IMPROVING RESPONSIBILITY OF OFFICERS

At the meeting, on behalf of the working group, comrade Tran Thi Thanh Lam - Standing member of the National Assembly's Social Committee highly appreciated the methodical, timely and efforts of Nghe An province in implementing three national target programs and the results achieved were quite good.

Standing member of the National Assembly's Social Affairs Committee Tran Thi Thanh Lam - Head of the working group suggested that the province review the goals of the three programs to have more drastic solutions. Photo: MH

The head of the working group also proposed that the province review the goals for the 2021-2025 period in all three programs to urge direction, combine innovation, and deploy management solutions to complete the set goals, prioritizing urgent goals related to essential issues in people's lives.

Pay attention to enhancing the responsibility of steering committee members at all levels; program and project owners and the responsibility of officers implementing the three programs, especially at the grassroots level.

The province also needs to focus on inspection and examination work; proactively remove difficulties and obstacles, and promptly make recommendations and proposals to the Central Government on issues beyond its authority./.