Support online public services for the elderly

At the Tan Thanh Commune Public Administration Service Center, the working atmosphere is always bustling and friendly. Every day, many people come to contact and resolve administrative procedures, including many elderly people. Although they are still unfamiliar with technology, they still feel secure when the staff and civil servants enthusiastically guide them step by step to complete administrative procedures.

Staff of Tan Thanh Commune Public Administration Service Center enthusiastically guide people, especially the elderly, to carry out administrative procedures.

Ms. Do Thi Huong, Buong village, shared: “I am old, have never used online public services, and do not know how to operate the public service portal. But when I came to the commune People's Committee headquarters, the staff of the Public Administration Service Center gave me specific instructions from how to declare information to the steps to submit documents, I felt very secure!” Not only Ms. Huong, many other people in the mountainous commune of Tan Thanh also shared the same sentiment. Ms. Pham Thi Hoa, Thanh Loi village, said: “When we have any paperwork to do, we go to the commune People's Committee to do it very quickly and enthusiastically, without having to go back and forth many times like before.”

According to Ms. Ha Thi Thanh, an officer of the Tan Thanh Commune Public Administration Service Center, the unit receives 30-40 administrative files of all kinds every day. Among them, a number of elderly people still have difficulty operating on computers and smartphones. “In these cases, we prioritize receiving files directly to promptly resolve people's needs. At the same time, we gradually guide people on how to submit files online so that they can gradually access technology. The goal is to help people quickly resolve their work and encourage the use of online public services,” Ms. Thanh shared. To better support people, Tan Thanh Commune has also mobilized youth union members, students, and organizations to participate in propaganda and guidance on the use of online public services. Mr. Le Hoang Cuong, Chairman of Tan Thanh Commune People's Committee, said: "For people who do not know how to use online public services, civil servants at the Public Administration Service Center must provide specific and dedicated instructions. If they do not get it the first time, they will be instructed a second and third time, until people really know how to operate. The commune's goal is to increase the rate of online submissions, but more importantly, no one is left behind."

Currently, many elderly people in rural areas still face the obstacle of "3 no's": no smartphone, no personal account, no knowledge of using technology. Many people are still hesitant and afraid to operate for fear of making mistakes, being scammed or losing information. Faced with this reality, the staff of Tan Thanh Commune Public Administration Service Center has worked overtime and persistently provided instructions to help people understand and gradually get used to digital operations. The Commune People's Committee has also increased propaganda through the loudspeaker system, bulletin boards, and social networks; publicly posted forms, procedures, fees, and charges; and regularly organized propaganda sessions to guide people to submit applications online.

In addition, for mountainous communes like Tan Thanh, limited network infrastructure is a major difficulty. Some areas and locations have low signal strength, causing online login and processing of documents to be interrupted at times. To overcome this, the Commune People's Committee has established a citizen support team and a community digital technology team, directly going to each village to support people, especially the elderly, ethnic minorities and households in low signal strength areas. Officers assigned to the Public Administration Service Center are also always ready to guide people on how to submit documents, scan documents or directly support when people encounter problems in the process of completing administrative procedures. This approach not only helps to quickly resolve work but also builds trust and solidarity between the government and the people.

In addition, mastering technology devices not only helps the elderly to carry out administrative procedures more conveniently but also brings many benefits to their spiritual life. When they know how to use smartphones, they can connect with their children and grandchildren, update news, participate in community activities, and contribute to a more active and positive life. However, the "digitalization" journey of the elderly still has many challenges. Reduced eyesight, poor memory, and a reluctance to learn new things make accessing technology difficult. Some people do not have smartphones or do not have the financial means to buy them, which is also a big barrier.

Therefore, for the national digital transformation process to be truly effective, it requires the synchronous participation of the entire political system, from investing in telecommunications infrastructure, equipment, to training a team of staff with appropriate guidance skills for each target group. Community digital technology groups and social organizations need to promote their role as "companions" of the elderly on the path to accessing technology. When technology becomes closer and more friendly, the elderly will not only find it easier to complete administrative procedures but also have the opportunity to fully integrate into digital life. Thereby, each successful operation on the public service portal is not only a step forward for the individual, but also a testament to the spirit of "no one is left behind" in the journey of national digital transformation.

Article and photos: Phuong Do

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/ho-tro-dich-vu-cong-truc-tuyen-cho-nguoi-cao-tuoi-266818.htm