Join hands to build sustainable social security

After 28 years of separation, the two provinces of Thai Nguyen and Bac Kan have officially merged again, with an area of ​​over 8,300km2 and nearly 1.7 million people. After merging the two provinces, the issue that people are concerned about is social security, such as: Are health services closer to the people, how are people with revolutionary contributions and the disadvantaged taken care of?...

Nui Phao Company staff give gifts to children in difficult circumstances being treated at the hospital.

For administrative restructuring to truly become a driving force for improving social security, there needs to be a clear roadmap, community participation and social supervision. Transition policies must ensure that “no one is left behind”. At the same time, the population data system and digital platforms need to be deployed synchronously to help people access social security services more easily, transparently and effectively.

According to the Ministry of Home Affairs , streamlining the payroll and reducing management units can save thousands of billions of VND each year, an important source of funding to reinvest in social security policies, such as health care, education, social insurance (SI), or subsidies for vulnerable groups.

By becoming part of a larger administrative unit, people in remote areas can access a more professional public service system, with better infrastructure and well-trained staff.

The issue of caring for people's lives, especially the disadvantaged, is always a key issue. In recent times, Thai Nguyen has fully implemented the Ordinance on preferential treatment for people with revolutionary contributions, along with many policies of the Party and State for policy families to achieve a standard of living equal to or higher than the local average; 100% of people with revolutionary contributions receive health monitoring and periodic check-ups.

The local budget invested tens of billions of VND to improve housing for policy beneficiaries; The Provincial People's Council issued Resolution No. 15/2021/NQ-HDND on regulating social assistance standards, social assistance levels for social protection beneficiaries and other disadvantaged subjects in the area: increasing the poverty line, directly supporting people with severe disabilities, children who are the third generation infected with toxic chemicals...

Giving money to support the construction of Great Solidarity houses for poor households in Pac Nam district (formerly Bac Kan ).

National target programs have helped 100% of mountainous communes (formerly Thai Nguyen) have roads, electricity grids, solid schools, and medical stations; the rate of poor ethnic minority households has decreased sharply. Thai Nguyen aims to have an average income of ethnic minorities reaching 60% of the general average in the 2024-2029 period, eliminating near-poverty according to new criteria.

The support policy has had a direct impact: roads, healthcare, education and environmental sanitation have improved significantly, opening up opportunities to improve the quality of life in ethnic minority areas and reduce the development gap compared to urban areas.

In parallel with policy support - ethnic groups, Thai Nguyen implements the Sustainable Poverty Reduction Program for the period 2021-2025: supporting access to healthcare, education, social credit, clean water, sanitation, information... Families with meritorious people or beneficiaries enjoy higher standards than the basic standards. Most poor households under the policy are guaranteed a minimum standard of living compared to the community; have full access to essential social services...

In the new phase, the province continues to prioritize investment in infrastructure - commune headquarters, technical infrastructure systems, and technology to quickly meet new governance requirements. At the same time, it implements projects that bring direct benefits to the people, especially in the fields of connecting traffic, clean water, healthcare, and education in ethnic minority and mountainous areas...

Ms. Ma Thi Van, a retired official in Cho Don commune, shared: We, the people, hope that the merger is a strategic step to exploit the potential of the region. The mountainous province of Bac Kan faces many difficulties, and merging with Thai Nguyen will open up many new opportunities.

Mr. Nguyen Van Nam, Phu Luong commune, also acknowledged: Streamlining the apparatus helps reduce costs, improve performance and work efficiency. People really expect that social security issues will be improved and enhanced more than before.

Militia forces support people to repair houses.

On the road from Bac Kan to the center of Thai Nguyen province, we suddenly realized: The precious thing is not only the new bridge and expanded asphalt road, but also the hearts of the people who all look forward to a peaceful, prosperous, and happy life.

Social security is not simply a policy, but also a rhythm of life. It is a bicycle that helps students in mountainous areas not to be late for school; it is a warm, more complete meal after hours of hard work; it is a machine in the field, helping farmers reduce their labor; it is a volunteer model of youth union members, community affection to build houses of great solidarity, warm and affectionate charity houses...

The story of Thai Nguyen - Bac Kan after the merger is an emotional journey of connection, consensus and joint efforts. Only when administrative reform, infrastructure investment, social security and cultural identity preservation are fully combined, can Thai Nguyen province truly become a "new growth pole", bringing a better life to all people - especially the poor, the meritorious and ethnic minorities.

- According to preliminary statistics: After the merger, the total number of poor households in Thai Nguyen province is more than 21,000 households, most of which are concentrated in the northern mountainous communes.

- The total number of people receiving regular social security benefits is nearly 55,000 people, mainly the elderly, the disabled, and orphans with no one to rely on.

- The whole province manages and implements preferential policies for over 133,000 people with revolutionary contributions.

- Before April 2025, Thai Nguyen province (old) has completed the elimination of temporary and dilapidated houses; Bac Kan province (old) has achieved over 71% progress in eliminating temporary and dilapidated houses.

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/xa-hoi/202507/chung-tay-dung-nen-an-sinh-ben-vung-a661810/