Implement policies to provide preferential treatment to people who have rendered meritorious services.

(Baonghean) - On the occasion of the Commemoration Day of War Invalids and Martyrs on July 27th, to provide information on the implementation of preferential policies for meritorious individuals in Nghe An province, Nghe An Newspaper had an interview with Mr. Nguyen Thanh Phung - Deputy Director of the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs on this issue.

Provincial leaders visited and inquired about the well-being of wounded and sick soldiers at the Center for the Rehabilitation of Severely Wounded Soldiers. Photo: Phuong Chi

PV:As a province with a large number of people who have rendered meritorious services to the nation, could you please tell us about some aspects of the implementation of preferential policies for people who have rendered meritorious services in Nghe An province in the past period?

Comrade Nguyen Thanh Phung:Nghe An province is strategically located. During the resistance wars against France and the United States, it served as both a rear base and a front line in defending the Fatherland. Therefore, the province's contribution in terms of human and material resources to these wars was immense, leaving behind great sacrifices and losses on the battlefields, with 45,016 martyrs, over 50,000 wounded soldiers receiving benefits similar to wounded soldiers, over 11,000 people receiving benefits for sick soldiers, and 879 Heroic Vietnamese Mothers awarded and posthumously awarded by the State. This demonstrates Nghe An's significant contribution to the cause of national defense.

Over the past period, with the attention of the Party Committee, the government, and the entire political system, we have focused on effectively implementing preferential policies for war invalids and martyrs in the province, demonstrating the responsibility and gratitude of the Party and the State regarding policies for war invalids and martyrs. The Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs, as a specialized agency advising the Provincial People's Committee and the Provincial Party Committee, has advised on effectively disseminating the policies of the Party and State, resolutions of the National Assembly, the Ordinance on War Invalids and Martyrs, decrees, and circulars, thereby ensuring that everyone understands and fully recognizes the preferential policies for those who have rendered meritorious service to the country in the province; and has advised on organizing training for civil servants throughout the province, from the grassroots level, communes, wards, towns to the district and provincial levels, to enhance the role and responsibility of civil servants in the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs, promoting the tradition of remembering those who have contributed to the nation and being dedicated to their work. The province has effectively implemented preferential policies for nearly 86,000 beneficiaries who receive regular payments authorized by the central government. In our province, this includes over 16,000 Vietnamese Heroic Mothers, war invalids, sick soldiers, war invalids and martyrs, and those affected by chemical toxins, with a monthly payment of 110 billion VND – a significant amount.

We have done a good job in caring for the material and spiritual lives of families entitled to preferential policies. Therefore, out of 480 communes and wards in our province, 447 have been assessed as having performed well. We have created conditions to improve the living standards and material lives of these individuals, ensuring that the living standards of those who have rendered meritorious services are equal to or higher than those of the general population. To date, this has been achieved in over 98% of cases. Further achievements include the establishment of the Gratitude and Repayment Fund. In 2013, the province raised over 18.5 billion VND for this fund. In the first six months of 2014, this figure reached approximately 7 billion VND. In 2013, 274 new houses of gratitude were built, and in accordance with Prime Minister's Decision 22, 954 houses out of a total of 1018 have been completed. Over 7,000 savings accounts were also donated, totaling approximately 1 billion VND.

These initial results demonstrate the responsibility of our Party committees, government agencies, and mass organizations in doing a good job of showing gratitude and repaying kindness, reflecting the principle of remembering one's roots and the humanity of our Party and State towards those who have contributed to the nation in our province.

PV:It is known that the Prime Minister has issued a directive on a comprehensive review of the implementation of preferential policies for people who have rendered meritorious services to the revolution during the years 2014-2015. So, what is the significance of this review, Comrade?

ComradeNguyen Thanh Phung:A comprehensive review of Government Directive 23, issued on October 27, 2013, was conducted over two years (2014-2015) to clarify and accurately assess the implementation of policies for war veterans and their families in provinces and localities. This review aimed to comprehensively evaluate how policies for war veterans and their families were implemented – whether they were timely, complete, correct, or flawed, and to identify shortcomings. The review also allowed the Party and State to synthesize feedback from the grassroots level, enabling further policy improvements. The goal was to improve the living standards of policy beneficiaries and enhance preferential treatment for war veterans and their families, demonstrating the Party and State's support and the responsibilities and roles of relevant agencies and public authorities.

PV:In reality, there are cases where people who have rendered meritorious service to the revolution have lost or misplaced their documents. In the spirit of Directive 23 during the review process, what measures can we take to recognize their contributions to the revolution and allow them to benefit from this policy?

ComradeNguyen Thanh Phung:There were high expectations for this review, and many letters were sent to the authorities regarding this issue. This comprehensive review took place over two years (2014-2015). According to the schedule, by the end of July 2014, the complete list of those who had completed the review at the commune, ward, town, and neighborhood levels would be compiled and published. This included a list of those who had been publicly and transparently identified in the neighborhoods, where people were concerned about whether those entitled to the policy were correct. There was also a list of those who had genuinely participated in the resistance and made contributions on various fronts and battlefields, including in Laos, but had not yet received benefits. The minutes of the neighborhood requests were compiled by the districts, towns, and cities, and then forwarded to the province. Through a comprehensive review, by 2015 a general summary will be compiled at the provincial level to report to the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs and the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee for consideration and resolution, to assist those who truly participated in the resistance but, for various reasons, have not yet received preferential policies and benefits for meritorious individuals.

PV:Nghe An province has been implementing general policies for people with meritorious services well; however, some negative aspects and shortcomings still exist, negatively impacting public opinion. What measures has the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs taken to rectify this situation?

ComradeNguyen Thanh Phung:It can be said that the achievements are commendable, but there are also limitations, weaknesses, and even negative aspects. In recent years, thanks to the attention of the Party Committee and the government, and especially the direction of the Provincial People's Committee, the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs has advised the Provincial Party Committee to establish inspection and auditing teams, strengthen inspection work, enhance democracy, increase transparency at the grassroots level, and detect some cases of violations. Particularly in 2010-2011, when some localities had violations, the department coordinated and directed the thorough resolution, recovering funds from those involved in corruption so that those with meritorious service could receive benefits according to the law. Those who violated their responsibilities and ethics were disciplined by the government and the Party. Many localities have promptly dealt with violators, including cases that have been brought to court for trial, while also setting an example for officials who allowed negative behavior to occur, those who tarnish the reputation of the entire system. We thank the departments, mass media agencies, specialized agencies, and districts and cities for their cooperation in resolving these issues, and we are truly grateful to those who provided complete and accurate information during the process of directing and implementing measures to limit negative behavior, especially demonstrating concern for those who have rendered meritorious service in the current situation.

PV:With the July 27th anniversary approaching, could you please tell us how the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs has advised the province on implementing policies and regulations for families who have rendered meritorious services to the revolution on this occasion?

ComradeNguyen Thanh Phung:July each year is a peak month for demonstrating the concern of Party committees and authorities at all levels, the Party, the State, and the entire political system for those who have rendered meritorious services to the nation. This year, the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs has advised the Provincial People's Committee to implement Plan 234 on the activities of July 27th in the province. First, we coordinated, advised, and planned propaganda with local media agencies, disseminating information at the grassroots level and to those implementing the policies. We advised the Provincial People's Committee to select exemplary families and exemplary war invalids to attend and report their achievements to the Party and State in Hanoi, and to offer incense at Hung Temple in Phu Tho. The delegation received great attention from Party and State leaders, who met with them, expressed their gratitude, and simultaneously assigned the department the responsibility to provide even more support. Party and State leaders organized visits and presented gifts throughout the province. We organized incense and flower offerings at Truong Son Cemetery and Duong 9 Cemetery – where martyrs from across the country, as well as those from our province, rest. We also organized incense and flower offerings at the Vietnam-Laos International Friendship Cemetery, where over 11,000 soldiers are laid to rest. We organized visits and discussions at various locations with the families of martyrs. We held commemorative events and festivals at the Vietnam-Laos Cemetery on the evening of July 26th, in coordination with the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union and other political organizations, to organize candlelight vigils at nearly 100 cemeteries, including large ones like the Vietnam-Laos Friendship Cemetery and cemeteries in cities and districts. These activities demonstrate our responsibility and moral obligation to show gratitude to those who have contributed to the nation.

PV:Thank you, comrade!

PV