Hot issues regarding policies for people with meritorious service.

Delay in issuing Certificates of Recognition for Service to the Fatherland

Overview of the questioning session at the 8th meeting of the Provincial People's Council. Photo: Thanh Cuong

During the questioning session, Mr. Doan Hong Vu, Director of the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs, presented a comprehensive report on the implementation of policies for war invalids and the difficulties and limitations encountered during the process.

The Director of the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs stated: In recent years, along with efforts to develop socio-economic aspects, the Party Committee and government of Nghe An province have always identified the work related to war invalids, martyrs, and people with meritorious contributions to the revolution as a key and regular political task, contributing to improving the material and spiritual lives of people with meritorious contributions in the province.

"However, the implementation of some policies has been flawed, causing public dissatisfaction; the handling of outstanding cases and the issuance/renewal of Certificates of Recognition for Service to the Fatherland, etc., have not been timely," said Mr. Doan Hong Vu.

Mr. Doan Hong Vu answers questions during the interpellation session. Photo: Thanh Cuong

Throughout the province, there are over 700 cases whose names have been included in the lists at martyrs' memorials in communes, wards, and towns by the people and relevant agencies and units over the years, but their records have not yet been retrieved to request benefits for their relatives and the awarding of Certificates of Recognition for Martyrs.

The process of replacing damaged or lost "Homeland Recognition" certificates has been slow for various reasons, including: While 1,000 to 3,000 certificates are replaced annually by the families of fallen soldiers, many requests remain pending, primarily due to incomplete or inaccurate information and data about the fallen soldiers needed for the certificates compared to the national database.

Mr. Nguyen Huu Vinh, a representative from Thanh Chuong district, poses a question at the session. Photo: Thanh Nga

Representative Nguyen Huu Vinh from Thanh Chuong district raised the issue: Currently, Thanh Chuong has 430 applications for certificate renewal, but only 154 have been renewed. Of those yet to be renewed, 7 cases have complete information but have not yet received their certificates. What solutions does the relevant department have to expedite the renewal process?

Responding to this issue, Mr. Doan Hong Vu stated: Currently, the entire province still has 823 cases with complete information but have not yet received their replacement diplomas. In Hung Nguyen district, 161 cases have already received their replacement diplomas, while over 600 cases across the province are still awaiting verification procedures at the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs.

The Director of the Department also stated that previously, there was guidance that simply having information about the gravesite would allow for the immediate issuance of a death certificate and entitlement to the family members for ancestral worship. However, at that time, people did not comply in time, so later, according to the regulations in Circular 16/2014/TT-BLD-TBXH, many cases with names inscribed on memorial tablets, and even with gravesites, were still not recognized. Therefore, units, localities, and departments will strive harder to expedite the process of issuing Certificates of Recognition for National Service to the families of martyrs.

The Department proposes that the Provincial People's Committee approve the establishment of a team to verify information regarding the sacrifices of 731 individuals and information about their relatives who received benefits before January 1, 1995, in order to have a basis for issuing death certificates and granting Certificates of Recognition for National Service in accordance with Article 13 of Circular No. 16/2014/TT-BLD-TBXH dated July 30, 2014, of the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs.

The issue of administrative procedure reform is heating up.

Representative Nguyen Thi Lan from Do Luong district poses a question during the interpellation session. Photo: Thanh Cuong

Representative Nguyen Thi Lan from Do Luong district raised the issue: After observing the administrative procedures for processing applications for war veterans, it's evident that departments and agencies are still using the old procedures, with many regulations regarding lengthy completion times. Why not use the new procedures?

According to the delegates' observations, the current processing time for renewing Certificates of Recognition for Service to the Fatherland is 70 days, however, the procedure at the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs stipulates a 6-month timeframe. The Ministry stipulates a 25-day timeframe for funeral expense reimbursement, but in Do Luong, it often takes up to a year.

Regarding this matter, Mr. Doan Hong Vu, Director of the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs, stated: The department has submitted a proposal for the issuance of a set of administrative procedures for the sector. Currently, the time for re-assessing disabilities has been reduced from 15 days to 12 days; the time for issuing and renewing documents has also been minimized. According to the new regulations of the Provincial People's Committee from the end of 2016, the time was 40 days, but the department has reduced it to only 25 days and will continue to strive to simplify other administrative procedures in the future.

Ms. Ngo Thi Thu Hien, a representative from Vinh City, poses a question during the interpellation session. Photo: Thanh Nga

The issue of land use fee exemptions for people with meritorious service was also raised by delegates. Delegate Ngo Thi Thu Hien from Vinh City stated: Since 2013, in accordance with the Land Law, the Government has stipulated that there will be no exemptions or reductions in land rent for policy beneficiaries. The Provincial People's Committee has not yet issued specific regulations on supporting land use fees for people with meritorious service, which has caused concern among many voters.

Regarding this matter, Mr. Doan Hong Vu stated: In reality, to resolve the issue of land use fee exemptions for people with meritorious services to the revolution, the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs is responsible for verifying eligible individuals according to the regulations in Article 10 of Decision No. 47/2008/QD-UBND dated August 21, 2008, of the People's Committee of Nghe An province, with support levels ranging from 80% to 90%. Therefore, in practice, we are still implementing regulations on land rent exemptions for individuals with meritorious services.

Construction begins on a house of gratitude for veteran Nguyen Duc Huong in Ban hamlet, Nghi Thiet commune, Nghi Loc district. Photo: Archival material.

Regarding Ms. Hien's question about why, according to regulations, those without housing are exempt from land use fees, but in Nghe An province, this is also applied to resettlement cases, Mr. Vu affirmed that, according to Decision 47/2008/QD-UBND, the province does not grant exemptions or reductions for this case.

Responding to a question from delegate To Van Thu (Quynh Luu) regarding the search, collection, burial, and identification of the remains of martyrs whose information is incomplete, the head of the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs stated that the department has coordinated with the Provincial Military Command in the search, collection, burial, and identification of the remains of martyrs whose information is incomplete. To date, the identification of martyrs' graves is covered by the Prime Minister's Project 150, while the search for martyrs' graves is primarily carried out by military forces.

The meeting hall was still heated with discussions about those who participated in the resistance war and were wounded but have not yet received their entitlements, and requested that the relevant authorities provide a plan for handling this issue in the future.

After listening to the questions and answers, Comrade Nguyen Xuan Son - Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Council - concluded: "The questions regarding policies and regulations for people with meritorious services were answered quite fully and thoroughly by the Director of the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs, demonstrating a proactive and responsible attitude. The Director presented many general and specific solutions for each issue."

However, in reality, the implementation of policies for war veterans still faces many challenges; there are still networks of fraudulent war veteran applications; the process of issuing and renewing Certificates of Recognition for National Service is slow; and many war veterans who were wounded have not yet received war veteran benefits due to lost documents.

Comrade Nguyen Xuan Son - Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Council, concluded the questioning session. Photo: Thanh Cuong

Therefore, in the coming period, we need to continue to prioritize the dissemination of information about people who have rendered meritorious services, so that the people understand correctly and actively cooperate with relevant agencies in verifying necessary information, in order to promptly receive benefits, and at the same time help them avoid falling into the trap of fake war invalid schemes.

In implementing policies, authorities at all levels also need to rectify any loopholes that cause errors or delays. Emphasis should be placed on inspection and supervision to prevent corruption, and social mobilization policies should be strengthened to increase resources for implementing policies for people with meritorious service.

"We need to improve our policies for those who have rendered meritorious service because this is both a responsibility and a moral obligation. Therefore, every level and every sector needs to uphold a higher sense of responsibility," the Chairman of the Provincial People's Council emphasized.

Nghe An is one of the provinces that manages and pays out regular and one-time allowances to people who have rendered meritorious services to the revolution, ranking third in the country (after Hanoi city and Thanh Hoa province).As of November 30, 2018, the entire province was paying regular allowances to 75,084 beneficiaries.