Strengthening the effectiveness of grassroots government operations

(Baonghean) - Practice has always proven that where the commune-level government operates effectively, there is political stability, socio-economic development, and people's lives are increasingly improved. Therefore, Nam Dan district has paid attention to taking care of the grassroots government by issuing Resolution No. 18/NQ-HU, dated November 1, 2011 of the District Party Committee on improving the quality of grassroots government operations.

Movement from commune level cadres

From a semi-mountainous commune with the most difficult socio-economic conditions in Nam Dan district, Nam Kim commune is now showing many positive signs. The most obvious is that the economy has formed effective spearheads, such as the hill garden economy with the main one being lemon with nearly 200 hectares, bringing in a value of more than 20 billion VND/year; the total herd as well as the quality of the Sind crossbred cattle herd has been improved; encouraging the development of a comprehensive farm economy of aquaculture, poultry, pig farming...

In particular, the new rural construction program with the participation of the entire political system has basically completed 19 criteria and is waiting for the province to appraise and recognize. This is the basis that reflects the most comprehensive development of the locality. Behind the above results, there are many factors, including the implementation of Resolution No. 18/NQ-HU, dated November 1, 2011 of the Nam Dan District Party Committee on improving the quality of grassroots government activities.

Officials of Hung Tien commune (Nam Dan) stay close to the grassroots to direct the economic development model.

Accordingly, the Commune Party Committee has focused on planning, training, and fostering the team of commune-level cadres. Up to this point, the team of specialized cadres and commune-level civil servants basically all have university and college degrees and intermediate political qualifications; focusing on linking cadre work with innovation in the content and methods of operation of the People's Council and People's Committee of the commune.

On the basis of building the operating regulations of the People's Council and People's Committee, assigning and clearly defining responsibilities for each member in the tasks, focusing on economic development, building new rural areas, ensuring national defense and security... In conjunction with the implementation of Directive 03 of the Politburo, now Directive 05 on promoting studying and following the example, morality and lifestyle of Ho Chi Minh; Directive 17 of the Provincial Party Standing Committee; administrative reform. "We clearly define the cadres and civil servants in charge of each region, each field and unit; strengthen the grassroots, listen to the opinions and feedback of the people and find solutions to promptly remove difficulties and obstacles arising from practice, promote the movement...", Comrade Pham Quyet Thang - Secretary of the Party Committee of Nam Kim commune emphasized.

In Xuan Hoa commune, the geographical location and socio-economic conditions have a more favorable starting point and have made quite steady progress; the commune was recognized as a unit meeting new rural standards in 2015. To achieve that result, according to comrade Le Van Nghi - Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee, in addition to the leadership role of the Party Committee, the grassroots government plays a very important role. The current commune cadres and civil servants are well-trained, their working positions are in line with their majors, overcoming the previous situation of "learning one thing, doing another"; 13/26 commune People's Council delegates, term 2016 - 2021; 13 full-time cadres and commune-level civil servants have university degrees.

The rural road system in Nam Dan is well-built. Photo: Archive

In particular, implementing Resolution No. 18 of the District Party Committee, the Party Committee has synchronously deployed many solutions to improve the quality of grassroots government activities, including: enhancing the sense of responsibility, sense of organization and discipline, administrative discipline of cadres and civil servants according to their assigned duties and tasks as prescribed by law. Strengthening information and exchange through meetings with voters of People's Council delegates, through meetings of the Commune People's Committee with the expansion of more subjects. Innovating working methods, being close to the people, understanding the people, taking care of mass mobilization and persuasion work to solve people's work "reasonably and emotionally"...

According to comrade Vuong Quang Thai - Head of the District Party Committee's Propaganda Department, after more than 5 years of implementation, the quality and effectiveness of the operations of the authorities at all levels have been improved, contributing to promoting common movements in each locality, showing that the issued resolution is very accurate and correct. Up to now, 24/24 communes and towns have built a diary to monitor the performance of public duties by cadres and civil servants as well as correctly assess the nature of consulting on professional tasks. All establishments have built working regulations for the People's Council and People's Committee; associated with innovation in methods, ways, and skills of work, enhancing dialogue, exchange, attachment to the grassroots, and closer to the people. In particular, promoting the leadership and management role of the head, especially in directing key tasks, resolving practical issues. The team of cadres and civil servants at the commune level has received attention in planning, training, and fostering.

Issues that need further attention

President Ho Chi Minh once said: “The commune level is closest to the people, it is the foundation of administration. If the commune level can work, everything will be done”. Therefore, for the Party committees at all levels in Nam Dan district, although the results of Resolution No. 18/NQ-HU have created a new wind at the grassroots level, there are still things to continue to worry about and pay more attention to in order to improve the quality and efficiency of the commune level when in reality there are still shortcomings and weaknesses.

Comrade Pham Quyet Thang - Secretary of the Party Committee of Nam Kim commune, stated: Although the qualifications of cadres and civil servants are increasingly high, there is still a lack of uniformity in qualifications in the political system, especially in the blocks and hamlets. This will affect the quality and effectiveness of the administration and operations of the government. Working methods, skills, professional expertise in some areas, and the ability to handle some tasks and recommendations from the people are not very effective. The application of technical solutions, especially information technology, in State management activities is still slow.

Bringing clean water to Nam Cat commune, Nam Dan district.

According to comrade Nguyen Lam Son - Standing Deputy Secretary of Nam Dan District Party Committee, in order to continue improving the quality of communal government activities, it is necessary to first overcome the weaknesses and shortcomings that are arising in the government apparatus. In terms of sense of responsibility, there are still some cadres and civil servants who are not high, while the mechanism for monitoring, evaluating and handling cadres, especially civil servants, is still difficult. This leads to a situation where cadres and civil servants lack dynamism, creativity, dare to think, dare to do, and even have a mindset of being content with their lot.

On the other hand, the current source of grassroots cadres is very difficult. The difficulty is that the source of commune leaders is from the team of civil servants and part-time cadres, while there are 4 civil servant positions, including finance, land administration, civil justice, and war invalids and social affairs, which are forced to be rotated, and the stability is not high, so localities do not include them in the cadre planning; a part of civil servants from other localities also find it difficult to become leaders.

The above situation is posing a requirement to continue to pay attention to and improve the quality and effectiveness of the operations of the grassroots government, in order to meet the provisions of the authority of the Law on Organization of Local Government. Currently, Nam Dan District Party Committee is promoting the development and promulgation of a Resolution to improve the leadership capacity and fighting strength of Party organizations, including improving the leadership capacity of the Standing Committee, the Party Executive Committee, and specialized organizations of the Party; improving the management and operation capacity of the government and the quality of operations of the Vietnam Fatherland Front and mass organizations; People's Councils and People's Committees must properly perform their functions in accordance with the provisions of the law. On the basis of the Party's policies and resolutions, the government must concretize them into specific, practical action programs and organize them for the people to effectively implement. Government officials must be people who respect the people, listen to what the people say, and speak so that the people listen.

Minh Chi