The anxieties of young intellectuals

(Baonghean) - Implementing Decision No. 70/2009/QD-TTg of the Prime Minister on the policy of attracting young intellectuals to participate in working groups according to Resolution 30a/2008/NQ-CP, Tuong Duong, Ky Son, and Que Phong districts have signed labor contracts with 173 young intellectuals. Currently, the contract period has ended, leaving many young intellectuals in a precarious situation...

In Xa Luong commune, Tuong Duong district, Bui Thi Thuy Dung, a young intellectual with a degree in political education, is highly regarded for her work in Task Force 30a. According to Mr. Luong Van Phan, Chairman of the Commune People's Committee, although initially lacking expertise in agriculture, forestry, and fisheries, Ms. Dung's enthusiasm and willingness to learn allowed her to quickly grasp the tasks. As a result, she has effectively advised the commune on the implementation of programs and projects, and the construction of new rural areas. Xa Luong commune has implemented truly effective models such as the black pig farming model in Co village and the Mong Cai pig farming model in Xinh Huong village... Mr. Phan said: "Xa Luong has four young intellectuals participating in the 30a working group. After nearly four years, three of them have been recruited as commune-level civil servants, while Ms. Bui Thi Thuy Dung has not been considered due to her unsuitable field of study. Currently, her contract has expired, and the commune is requesting the district to extend it because, in reality, Xa Luong really needs young officials like Ms. Dung. If Ms. Dung is not recruited or her contract is not extended, it will be a loss for Ms. Dung and for the commune..."

Young intellectual Bui Thi Thuy Dung at the home of Mr. Pham Van Than (Xa Luong commune - Tuong Duong district).

Leading us on a tour of the pig farming model supported by the commune, Mr. Pham Van Than (Cua Rao 1 village) said: "The young 30a officials are very enthusiastic, regularly visiting families to check on and guide them on proper farming techniques and disease prevention. Currently, Ms. Dung is advising families on how to install a biogas digester system...". In our conversation, Dung confided that although she couldn't work in a field related to her studies, over time she has truly become attached to the work, the officials, and the local people. "Although I don't know what the future holds, I plan to dedicate my time to studying a suitable profession so that if my contract is extended, I can contribute even more...".

In the remote Xieng My commune, young intellectual Nguyen Thi Huong, despite graduating from a vocational school in administrative and secretarial work, has been recognized for her excellent performance in all four years of service for her contributions to Task Force 30a and the commune's activities. Because her contract ended in April 2014, Huong only worked until May before taking a temporary leave while waiting for the District People's Committee to seek approval from higher authorities for a contract extension. Huong confided: "Although our initial field of study wasn't really suitable, we both adapted well, so now we can complete any task for the commune. In Xieng My, there are two young intellectuals: me and Lo Van Choi. When our contracts ended, we hadn't received any response from higher authorities, so we had to take a temporary leave. We really hope to continue working. I am currently studying Law at university, hoping that my contract will be extended and I will be recruited into the civil service..."

According to our findings, the authorities of the three districts of Tuong Duong, Ky Son, and Que Phong all highly appreciate the implementation of Decision 70 of the Prime Minister, acknowledging the contributions of young intellectuals. In Tuong Duong, a total of 51 young intellectuals were contracted by the District People's Committee from April 1, 2010. In Report No. 49/BC-UBND dated March 31, 2014, Mr. Trinh Minh Chau, Chairman of the District People's Committee, called the attraction of young intellectuals to help poor communes "A breakthrough in leadership, management, and application of scientific knowledge to build and promote socio-economic development in the locality."

Report No. 49 also stated: Young intellectuals in Tuong Duong district are knowledgeable, healthy, enthusiastic, and energetic in their work, thereby making a significant contribution to raising awareness in poverty alleviation and implementing programs and projects in poor communes and for the people. In the economic field, young intellectuals have proactively coordinated with commune officials and civil servants to develop plans for socio-economic development in their assigned areas. They actively participate in training and surveys on agriculture to develop projects for building and developing new rural areas. In the cultural and social fields, poverty alleviation, young intellectuals have actively worked with departments, agencies, and organizations to effectively promote and mobilize local people to adopt a cultured lifestyle and build cultured families. Actively participating in cultural and artistic movements, sports, population and family planning work, reproductive health care, etc. As a result, the number of poor households has decreased rapidly year by year; from 11,412 poor households in 2011 to 9,561 poor households in 2013.

Due to the prior implementation of Prime Minister's Decision 70 in Que Phong and Ky Son districts, the contracts of the 30a intellectuals in Tuong Duong district expired on April 30, 2014. Prior to this, the district had submitted reports to the Provincial People's Committee and the Department of Internal Affairs, detailing the achievements of the young intellectuals over the past four years and requesting contract extensions. However, to date, the Provincial People's Committee and the Department of Internal Affairs have not commented on this matter. "Of the 51 young intellectuals participating in Task Force 30a, Tuong Duong district has recruited 23 into civil service positions, and one has requested a transfer, leaving 27 remaining. After four years of service, the district has assessed the capabilities of each individual. Therefore, we have requested the province to allow the extension of contracts for all 27. Due to the lack of provincial approval, the district has temporarily allocated budget funds to cover short-term payments so that they can continue working. However, this cannot be extended further as we lack the authority to do so. We earnestly hope that higher authorities will consider and review the extension of contracts for the young intellectuals in Task Force 30a...", a leader of Tuong Duong district stated.

In Que Phong district, at the end of 2010, 59 young intellectuals were attracted to participate in the 30a working groups. After three years of work, the total number has decreased to 48. In Report No. 83/BC-UBND dated May 19, 2014, sent to the Department of Internal Affairs, Que Phong district assessed: "After more than three years of implementing the policy of attracting young intellectuals to participate in working groups in poor communes according to Resolution 30a/2008/NQ-CP, the appearance of Que Phong district has changed significantly, the lives of the people have improved noticeably, culture and society have undergone many positive changes, and national defense and security have been maintained... The team of young intellectuals with enthusiasm, qualifications, and expertise in science, technology and engineering have not shied away from difficulties, readily undertaking tasks in remote, mountainous, and border areas. Through practical experience, they have played their role in leading and directing the implementation of tasks to help people eradicate hunger and reduce poverty." At the same time, it is proposed that: In the first six months of 2014, conditions should be created for the district to continue contracting the existing number of young intellectuals. The district will review the quality of activities and the need for contracting young intellectuals in localities in the next phase; and will have a plan to arrange and assign jobs for young intellectuals with outstanding performance after the project ends so that they have a direction to strive for and feel secure in their work...

In Ky Son district, the District People's Committee also highly appreciated the achievements of the young intellectuals, considering the implementation of Decision 70 of the Prime Minister as a supportive solution that has overcome difficulties and resolved obstacles and shortcomings in personnel work at the grassroots level. The number of young intellectuals attracted to Ky Son district in 2010 and 2011 was 60. Through their work, the majority of these young intellectuals demonstrated good abilities, completed their assigned tasks, and the District People's Committee recommended that the Department of Internal Affairs assess their recruitment into commune-level civil servant positions (29 people, with the remaining 31 people).

According to Mr. Bui Tram, Chairman of the Ky Son District People's Committee: Currently, Decree 92/2009/ND-CP allows communes to allocate additional civil servants depending on the type of administrative unit at the commune level. However, due to the large area of ​​Ky Son and the scattered nature of many villages, implementing policies down to the village level still faces many difficulties. The work of surveying, compiling statistics, and guiding the application of scientific and technical methods in production for the people also takes a lot of time and effort, dispersing the workforce. Therefore, it is essential to continue attracting young intellectuals to work in the communes to supplement the support teams, ensuring that each commune has at least 3 people to form a support team according to Decision 70/QD-CP. In addition, there needs to be a policy to invest in working equipment so that volunteer team members have the means to work and fully utilize their abilities; and a plan to train and educate volunteer team members, especially in the fields they are responsible for. The Ky Son District People's Committee continues to extend the contracts of young intellectuals whose reinforcement assignments are about to expire, as there are currently no recruitment quotas or alternative job placements for them...

It can be affirmed that, over time, the majority of young intellectuals have proven their capabilities, and they are now a high-quality workforce, an indispensable part of the workforce in difficult and challenging areas. Given their achievements and the urgent needs of the local communities, the assessment for contract renewal should be promptly considered by the competent authorities. As Mr. Lo Xuan Tinh, Chairman of the People's Committee of Xieng My commune, said: "With the contributions of the young intellectuals under Program 30a, the socio-economic landscape of Xieng My and the awareness of the people in all aspects have truly changed. Xieng My desperately needs officials like them..."

Text and photos:Nhat Lan