Solving the problem of public debt in the new rural development program.

(Baonghean) - Setting the goal of becoming a new rural district by 2020 clearly demonstrates the high determination of the Party Committee of Quynh Luu district. However, due to difficulties in resources, especially the high level of public debt in some communes after being recognized, the achievement of this goal has been affected.

Nghe An Newspaper had an interview with Comrade Dang Ngoc Binh - Member of the Standing Committee of the District Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the District People's Committee, and Deputy Head of the Steering Committee for New Rural Development in Quynh Luu District.

Some households engaged in traditional carpentry in Quynh Nghia commune have invested in automatic wood carving machines, improving production efficiency.

PV:Could you please tell us about the results that Quynh Luu district has achieved so far in fulfilling the goal set by the 27th District Party Congress to become a new rural district by 2020?

Comrade Dang Ngoc Binh:The 27th Congress of the Quynh Luu District Party Committee set the goal of becoming a new rural district by 2020. This is a major goal, reflecting the high determination of the entire Party Committee and people of the district. In setting this goal, Quynh Luu based its decision on the practical results after 5 years of implementing the National Target Program for New Rural Development. Twelve communes have achieved the target, and 16 communes have met 13-16 criteria. Therefore, by 2020, Quynh Luu will have 27 communes achieving the target (reaching 75% of the district's communes), and according to Decision 491-QD/TTg, it will achieve the status of a new rural district.

To achieve this goal, in addition to the five key programs of the 27th Party Congress aimed at comprehensive socio-economic development and strengthening the political system, only one resolution is planned: the Resolution of the Party Committee on building new rural areas. The draft resolution has been reviewed by the Standing Committee and the Party Committee for issuance; however, with the Government's Decision No. 558-QĐ/TTg dated April 5, 2016, stipulating that 100% of communes in a district must achieve the new rural area status, the goal of becoming a new rural district by 2020 is impossible for Quynh Luu district.

It was impossible to issue a resolution under such objective circumstances, but Quynh Luu still demonstrated high determination in achieving the goal of building new rural areas, and the Party Committee will approve the New Rural Area Construction Project in November. Although no resolution was issued, Quynh Luu remains loyal and determined to achieve the goals set forth in the Resolution of the 27th District Party Congress, and has been diligently implementing Decision 558-QĐ/TTg and exceeding some criteria where the locality has the capacity.

The strong determination of the District Party Committee and its subordinate grassroots Party committees in implementing the New Rural Development Program has yielded results: in 2015, 6 communes achieved the target, and in 2016, an additional 3 communes followed. After achieving the New Rural Development standard, Quynh Doi commune is now taking steps to build a model New Rural Development commune.

The material and spiritual quality of life for the people has improved significantly. Average income has increased from 15-16 million VND to 26.5 million VND per person per year, with some communes even reaching over 30 million VND per person per year. The poverty rate, which was previously 2.3% (old criterion), will be reduced to below 5% (new criterion) by the end of 2016.

PV:Recently, during several meetings with constituents by National Assembly and Provincial People's Council representatives, voters raised concerns about some communes that have achieved New Rural Area status but still have excessively large debts, affecting the sustainability of the criteria as well as social order and security. Comrade Nguyen Dac Vinh - Member of the Central Committee of the Party, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, and Head of the Provincial National Assembly Delegation - also directed an investigation to clarify this issue. So, how has Quynh Luu district addressed this?

Comrade Dang Ngoc Binh:Immediately after receiving information from voter outreach and the direction of the Provincial Party Secretary, the Standing Committee of the District Party Committee directed the District People's Committee to investigate the public opinion situation. Accordingly, the District People's Committee assigned the task to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Department of Finance and Planning to coordinate on-site inspections in communes where information indicated excessively large public debt related to the New Rural Development program.

In Quynh Hau commune, a new rural area, there were previous reports that the commune's public debt exceeded 25 billion VND. However, after a comprehensive review of all projects, the total public debt in the commune was found to be 8.8 billion VND. The reason for this significantly higher debt is that the commune's Fatherland Front included in its budget some unfinished "post-new rural area" projects from 2015-2016 that had not yet been settled.

Based on this information regarding public debt in the new rural development program, the District People's Committee has directed a comprehensive review of all public debts in communes that have achieved the new rural development goals, and instructed these communes to submit solutions and debt repayment plans. Currently, the communes with the highest public debt in the new rural development program are Quynh Bang commune (9.3 billion VND) and Ngoc Son commune (9 billion VND), while the lowest is Quynh Minh commune (1 billion VND); the remaining communes have debts ranging from 3 to 5 billion VND.

Based on the actual amount of public debt, the District People's Committee requested the communes to analyze the sources of funding. Accordingly, they were asked to clarify each item of funding from the central budget, provincial budget, district budget; other sources including expenditure savings; and to develop a plan for land auctions in the 12 communes that have already developed such plans and sources through contributions from the people.

New rural roads in Quynh Doi commune (Quynh Luu district).

PV:Clearly, to limit public debt and move towards the goal of building a sustainable new rural district, the most important and decisive solution is to develop production and improve the living standards and income of the people. Regarding this issue, what directions has Quynh Luu district been pursuing, Comrade?

Comrade Dang Ngoc Binh:Although Quynh Luu is actively striving to achieve the goal of becoming a New Rural District as set forth in the Resolution of the Party Congress, it should not be pursued at all costs. For example, in 2017, three communes registered to achieve the New Rural District status: Quynh Giang, Quynh Tam, and Quynh Van. However, after a review, the district only selected two communes to achieve this goal.

In implementing the New Rural Development criteria, we prioritize the income of the people. Therefore, in localities with specific conditions and different development advantages, the district encourages maximizing these advantages with demand-stimulating solutions through policies supporting production, organizing training courses to equip people with additional skills and capabilities for production development, and completing planning to attract businesses and investors to invest in aquaculture infrastructure, storm shelters, expanding ports, dredging Thoi Canal, etc.

In particular, among the five key programs implementing the Resolution of the 27th District Party Congress, three programs focus on economic development and increasing people's income, and the last one is the goal of building sustainable new rural areas. These are the programs and projects: promoting the application of science and technology, high-tech agriculture, and introducing mechanization into agricultural production; the project to build and develop the brand of Quỳnh Lưu specialty products, initially focusing on three products: pineapples, fish sauce, and dried squid; and the project to concentrate on attracting resources for building new rural areas.

Thus, it can be said that, implementing the National Target Program for building new rural areas in the context of general resource difficulties, Quynh Luu district has achieved considerable success through flexible and creative solutions. From the reality of more than 5 years of implementing the new rural area program, the district has created positive changes in the awareness and thinking of officials, Party members, and the people. With the motto of continuing to build sustainable new rural areas based on controlling public debt, constantly investing in production development, and increasing people's income... Quynh Luu is effectively achieving the goals set by the District Party Congress for the 2015-2020 term.

PV:Thank you, comrade!

Huu Nghia

(Perform)