It's not just about appearances.

The Provincial Front's monitoring team works with the Department of Natural Resources and Environment. (Photo: MT)

We need a practical approach.

During the six monitoring activities conducted by the Provincial Front in 2023, one was the monitoring of the implementation of Resolution No. 01/2020/NQ-HĐND dated April 21, 2020, of the Provincial People's Council on the mechanism for encouraging investment and supporting centralized solid waste treatment areas in the province for the period 2020-2030. The monitoring revealed that, after three years of implementation, although state budget funds had been allocated, the funds had not yet been disbursed.

The objective of the Quang Nam Province Solid Waste Management Project (a project implementing Resolution 01) was that by the end of 2022, each district would establish at least one centralized solid waste treatment facility to handle waste in the area. However, this had not been achieved at the time of the monitoring.

In particular, the planning of treatment areas in some localities has encountered many difficulties and obstacles regarding site determination, ensuring safe distances, and resettlement arrangements. Efforts to promote and attract investors under Resolution 01 have not yielded results.

Following the recommendations of the inspection team, the Provincial People's Committee directed corrective measures. By July 2024, 5 out of 13 localities with waste treatment facilities had received financial support (Ai Nghia town in Dai Loc district; Tam Xuan 2 commune in Nui Thanh district; Prao town in Dong Giang district; Tra Son commune in Bac Tra My district and Tra Don commune in Nam Tra My district).

The planning of waste treatment areas has been adjusted based on local recommendations. Most concerning is the failure to provide support to investors in waste treatment as stipulated in the resolution.

This example illustrates the vast scope of the resolution's impact, but even though the Provincial Front proposes many issues related to the practical interests of the people and businesses, implementation is not easy. And for policies to truly be put into practice, more substantive approaches are needed.

Gap in post-monitoring audits

Mr. Phan Khac Chuong, Chairman of the Provincial Lawyers Association and Head of the Democratic and Legal Advisory Council of the Provincial Fatherland Front of Quang Nam, stated that during the 2019-2024 term, the response and feedback from all levels of government regarding the recommendations of the Provincial Fatherland Front were quite effective.

Mr. Nguyen Phi Hung - Vice Chairman of the Provincial Fatherland Front (center) and the working group monitoring the policy of encouraging the socialization of healthcare and education in religious establishments. Photo: Fatherland Front

"However, to thoroughly address the recommendations following supervision, a high level of professionalism is needed from the specialized Front Committee officials. This starts from selecting the subjects and content of supervision, to persistently following up on the responses to the recommendations after supervision."

To achieve this, the recommendations must be specific and detailed, avoiding phrases like "strengthen," "promote," and "improve," which are often repeated in reports and recommendations following oversight.

"It is necessary to carefully select the content of the recommendations by considering the authority and responsibility of the relevant agencies to resolve them, so that the Front leaders can promptly inform and report back to the leaders of the People's Committee at the same level at the monthly regular meetings in accordance with the Law on Organization of Local Government in 2019," Mr. Chuong said.

In the first six months of this year alone, the Fatherland Front at all levels organized 82 thematic supervision sessions at 106 units. Through these supervisions, many shortcomings and obstacles in the implementation of policies and laws by the government at all levels were discovered, and 61 documents were promptly issued to the People's Councils, People's Committees at all levels, and relevant agencies for inspection and handling according to regulations.

A total of 55 out of 61 documents were processed and responded to by relevant authorities. However, it is difficult to determine the actual results after these documents were issued.

Ms. Truong Thi Ngoc Anh, Vice Chairwoman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, stated: "Compared to other provinces in the Central Highlands and Central Coastal region's emulation cluster, Quang Nam is the leading unit in terms of the number of monitoring activities conducted by the Fatherland Front at all levels."

The Central Committee highly appreciates the social monitoring and criticism work of the Quang Nam Provincial Front, because its staff have been involved in Front activities for a long time, are enthusiastic and dedicated to their work; and proactively and effectively select the right issues of concern to the people to address.

However, there are gaps in the recommendations and oversight that the Provincial Front needs to address in order to advise the Party Committee and the government to direct more decisively and achieve better results.”

Concerns

Numerous seminars on promoting the role and improving the quality and effectiveness of the Fatherland Front's social supervision and criticism are held annually.

Members of the Socio -Economic Advisory Council monitor policies encouraging and supporting people to grow medicinal plants in Tay Giang district. Photo: MT

Most recently, the Provincial Front hosted a seminar at the conference of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committees of the Central Highlands and Central Coastal provinces (held on July 5th in Hoi An).

Sharing experiences is essential. Because answering the question "How to conduct effective criticism and supervision?" is a common concern for the entire Fatherland Front system, from the central to local levels. Concerns about the quality of criticism and supervision are not unique to Quang Nam province.

According to Mr. Nguyen Phi Hung, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Quang Nam province, in the past period, social supervision and criticism activities have been conducted in accordance with the procedures of Joint Resolution No. 403 (detailing the forms of social supervision and criticism of the Vietnam Fatherland Front), in line with the Front's capabilities; at the same time, promoting the role of advisory councils and seeking opinions from reputable and experienced individuals in social supervision and criticism...

"The main concern in this activity is the responsibility for receiving, addressing, and responding to the Front's recommendations after supervision by competent agencies and organizations. This is especially true for recommendations related to complex issues that have persisted for many periods and fall under the responsibility of multiple agencies."

"Although the responsibility for receiving and addressing the Front's recommendations is clearly stated in Regulation No. 2107-QD/TU of the Provincial Party Committee's Standing Committee, this regulation needs to be institutionalized in a new legal document to ensure greater feasibility. And when the implementation of the Front's recommendations is ensured and the effectiveness of supervision is enhanced, the core position and role of the Front will be affirmed and promoted in the political system and social life," Mr. Nguyen Phi Hung shared.

The effectiveness of social monitoring and criticism during the past term serves as a foundation and aspiration for continued innovation in the work of the Fatherland Front in the 2024-2029 term. Good critical thinking and skills, along with proactive listening, are essential.

While multiple perspectives are offered to enhance effective oversight and critical analysis, the core principle remains prioritizing the legitimate interests of the people. This reflects the dedication of those with sufficient knowledge to address pressing social issues today.

Mr. Luong Nguyen Minh Triet - Secretary of the Quang Nam Provincial Party Committee. Photo by PV.

Secretary of the Quang Nam Provincial Party Committee - Luong Nguyen Minh Triet:
Continue to innovate in thinking and methods of monitoring and critical evaluation.

"Party committees and organizations at all levels need to create favorable conditions for the Fatherland Front and socio-political organizations to participate in social supervision and criticism."

At the same time, it is necessary to research, review, amend, supplement, or create new legal documents to promptly and fully institutionalize the rights and responsibilities of the Fatherland Front and political and social organizations in participating in social supervision and criticism. Research should be conducted on mechanisms for commissioning critical feedback. Attention should be paid to allocating resources to support supervision and criticism activities.

In social monitoring and criticism, the Fatherland Front at all levels must be proactive, not waiting for requests from Party committees and authorities before monitoring and criticizing; it should select specific issues that arise from grievances and suggestions from voters and the people, especially those that directly affect the rights and interests of the people; and strengthen criticism of policies, projects, and initiatives that significantly impact people's lives.

At the same time, it is necessary to continue innovating and diversifying forms of social supervision and criticism, as well as organizational measures for implementation; strengthening the gathering of intellectuals and professionals, and improving the quality of the team carrying out social supervision and criticism tasks of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee and political and social organizations at all levels.

In addition, conduct preliminary and final reviews of the implementation of social supervision and criticism. Through these reviews, select appropriate and effective forms and methods of supervision and criticism regarding the implementation of the principle of democratic centralism within the Party.”

Source: https://baoquangnam.vn/giam-sat-phan-bien-xa-hoi-cua-mat-tran-cach-nao-de-nang-cao-hieu-qua-bai-cuoi-khong-chi-la-hinh-thuc-3138161.html