The regulations on grassroots information activities came into effect on February 1, 2017.

On December 6, 2016, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam signed Decision No. 52/2016/QD-TTg promulgating the Regulations on grassroots information activities. The Decision took effect from February 1, 2017.

Illustrative image.

According to these Regulations, grassroots information activities must provide essential information to people in communes, wards, and towns through broadcasting by commune-level radio stations; grassroots information bulletins; non-commercial materials serving grassroots information activities; direct information through grassroots information reporters and propagandists; public bulletin boards; and other forms of grassroots information activities.

Basic information activities include providing information on state policies and laws, information on international and domestic events directly related to local people; providing essential information and knowledge for the daily lives of local people, tailored to the target audience and socio-economic conditions of each region, including:

Information on projects and programs for economic, cultural, and social development in the locality; information related to the local politics, economy, culture, and society, as well as scientific and technical knowledge; information related to social order, safety, security, and national defense in the locality; information on incidents and emergencies occurring in or affecting the locality; information on exemplary collectives and individuals in various fields; information on products, goods, and services serving the production and daily lives of local people; and information serving the guidance and management tasks of local authorities, agencies, and grassroots units.

According to this Decision, grassroots information must ensure adherence to the Party's guidelines and policies, the State's laws, and be consistent with sound local customs; ensuring that essential information reaches the people promptly and accurately, with a focus on people in rural areas, mountainous regions, remote areas, border areas, islands, and areas with difficult or extremely difficult socio-economic conditions.

Funding for grassroots information activities comes from the state budget; and is also mobilized from organizations, individuals, and other legitimate sources.

According to Infonet