Bac Ninh: Improving the quality of administrative services in mountainous and highland communes

BAC NINH - Despite facing many challenges due to the specificity of the area, with the sense of responsibility and efforts of the entire political system, the two-level local government model in communes of ethnic minorities and mountainous areas of Bac Ninh province has initially been operated smoothly. The reception and settlement of administrative procedures have brought about efficiency, creating favorable conditions for people to access public services easily and promptly.

Good news from highland communes

A few days ago, Mr. Nguyen Duy Trong (born in 1954), a Tay ethnic, residing in Bien village, An Lac commune, went to the Commune Public Administration Service Center to complete procedures to receive benefits for people aged 70 to under 75 years old, belonging to poor or near-poor households, not receiving pensions or monthly social insurance benefits. Due to his old age and limited access to information technology, Mr. Trong was given detailed instructions by the staff of the Commune Public Administration Service Center on the steps to complete the application. Thanks to that, after just over 10 minutes, all of his procedures were resolved.

Staff of Tuan Dao Commune Public Administration Service Center guide people to submit administrative procedures.

Similarly, Mr. Dinh Duc Anh (born in 1986), residing in Rong village (same An Lac commune) also took just over 10 minutes to complete the procedure to request confirmation of authorization for relatives to resolve personal issues arising during his time working abroad. “This is the first time I have come to the Commune Public Administration Service Center after operating a 2-level local government. I have noticed that citizens who come here to do procedures are all enthusiastically guided and supported,” Mr. Dinh Duc Anh shared.

According to the Department of Ethnic Minorities and Religions, the province currently has 32 communes in ethnic minority and mountainous areas; ethnic minorities account for about 11% of the population. Due to the specific characteristics of the area and difficult transportation, many remote areas were previously isolated from the district center whenever there was heavy rain. The implementation of the 2-level local government model has shortened travel time, ensuring that administrative procedures are carried out continuously and without interruption in unusual weather conditions.

In Tuan Dao commune, to create the best conditions for the people, the People's Committee of the commune has paid attention to investing in renovating and repairing the Public Administration Service Center. At the same time, it has assigned staff with solid expertise and knowledge of information technology to work here. Thanks to that, from July 1st to now, the Public Administration Service Center of the commune has received 157 administrative procedure files, of which 149 files were processed ahead of schedule; the rate of online submission of files via the National Public Service Portal reached 100%.

With this result, at the end of July, Tuan Dao commune ranked 1st out of 99 communes and wards in terms of transparency in administrative procedures and public service provision. Comrade Nguyen Ngoc Son, Chairman of the Commune People's Committee, said: "Previously, many administrative procedures had to be resolved through the district or provincial level, but now they are handled directly at the commune level. The responsibility and pressure of the commune level are greater, but in return, people are better served."

Focus on removing difficulties

According to the assessment of the Department of Home Affairs, after the two-level government model officially came into operation, in mountainous communes, highlands, remote areas, and particularly difficult areas, the settlement of administrative procedures for people has had many positive changes. However, due to the characteristics of the area, the large proportion of ethnic minorities, and the facilities that have not met the requirements, in some localities, the activities of receiving and settling administrative procedures for people still face many difficulties.

Recently, through a field survey in 8 communes formed from 17 communes and towns of the old Son Dong district, the provincial working group noted that most localities have arranged enough staff and equipment at the Public Administration Service Center, and administrative procedure settlement is convenient. However, in 3 communes: Son Dong, Tay Yen Tu and Yen Dinh, the working area of the public administration service centers is small and at times overloaded. Similarly, after merging the communes: Tam Tien, Tien Thang and An Thuong into Tam Tien commune, this locality has a natural area of up to 60 ^km2 with more than 17,500 people. The need to settle administrative procedures of the people is large, while the facilities do not meet the requirements, the People's Committee of Tam Tien commune has to arrange 5 civil servants and public employees of the Public Administration Service Center to work at 2 locations.

To best serve the needs of people and businesses, the People's Committees of ethnic minority and mountainous communes proactively overcome difficulties, improve working processes and maximize available resources to help reduce time and save costs for people. In An Lac commune, on August 6, the People's Committee established a Working Group on science , technology development, innovation and digital transformation. In 9 villages that are often isolated by floods, the People's Committee assigned specialized agencies to guide and train village officials on technology, promptly guide and support people to carry out administrative procedures online.

At the end of July, the Provincial Public Administration Service Center organized training and guidance on receiving and handling administrative procedures according to the 2-level local government model for 100% of communes and wards with the participation of more than 1,500 cadres, civil servants and public employees. The Center is coordinating with the Department of Finance to grasp and review the current status of facilities as well as the need for purchasing equipment of communes in ethnic minority and mountainous areas to advise the Provincial People's Committee to arrange support funds.

Comrade Nguyen Ngoc Nam, Deputy Chief of the Provincial People's Committee Office, Director of the Provincial Public Administration Service Center said: "With the motto of "best meeting the needs of the people", we continue to review and add functions to the province's shared software; maintain a hotline to receive and support the settlement of administrative procedures of communes and wards. For communes in ethnic minority and mountainous areas, we are ready to arrange staff to go to the locality to support in the direction of hand-holding and showing the work".

Article and photos: Sy Quyet

Source: https://baobacninhtv.vn/bac-ninh-nang-chat-luong-phuc-vu-hanh-chinh-cac-xa-mien-nui-vung-cao-postid424219.bbg