Kim Son is being cautious and flexible in arranging commune-level administrative units.

Careful and thorough planning is essential.

Comrade Nguyen Van Dien, Deputy Head of the Internal Affairs Department of Kim Son District, said: In the period 2019-2021, Kim Son District was the only unit among the 8 districts and cities of the province to implement the reorganization of commune-level administrative units, with 3 units subject to reorganization and 2 adjacent units affected. After the reorganization, 2 commune-level administrative units were reduced (from 27 units to 25 commune-level administrative units). The reorganized commune-level administrative units quickly stabilized their organizational structure and implemented political tasks at the local level, contributing to the overall development of the district.

However, a review of the current status of commune-level administrative units under Kim Son district in the 2023-2025 period revealed that 7 units in the district have not met 70% of the standards for natural area and population size; and 1 unit has not met 20% of the standards for natural area and 300% of the standards for population size. The small size of some administrative units leads to limited development space, dispersed resources, and difficulties in planning, setting long-term socio -economic development directions. On the other hand, due to the large number of organizational structures and personnel allocated to agencies, organizations, and units in the grassroots political system, while most commune-level administrative units have insufficient budget revenue to balance their regular expenditures.

Based on the practical situation and implementing the policy of merging commune-level administrative units, Kim Son district has set the goal of completing the reorganization by 2025 for commune-level administrative units that simultaneously meet both criteria of natural area and population size below 70% of the regulations; and commune-level administrative units that simultaneously meet both criteria of natural area below 20% and population size below 300% of the regulations.

Based on the Party's regulations, the State's policies and laws, guidance from competent authorities, and the specific characteristics of each locality, the People's Committee of Kim Son District has developed a plan for the reorganization of commune-level administrative units in Kim Son District, giai đoạn 2023-2025. Accordingly, the entire natural area and population of Luu Phuong commune will be merged into Phat Diem town. Simultaneously, the entire natural area and population of Kim Hai commune and the area of Unit 1080 (formerly part of the 1st Army Corps) will be merged into Binh Minh town. Thus, after the reorganization, Kim Son District will have 23 communes and towns (a reduction of 2 commune-level administrative units). With this reorganization, Kim Son District hopes to open up new opportunities for development, contributing to the construction of advanced and model new rural areas and the development of civilized, modern, and distinctive urban areas.

According to the Deputy Head of the Internal Affairs Department of Kim Son District: During the process of directing the development of the plan for rearranging commune-level administrative units in the district, the District Party Committee and the District People's Committee directed that special attention be paid to studying the specific factors, historical traditions, culture, religion and beliefs, customs and practices, and natural conditions to come up with the most optimal rearrangement plans; the implementation of the rearrangement of commune-level administrative units must be linked to the planning of urban and rural systems. At the same time, the district also directed that the rearrangement of commune-level administrative units in the district must be meticulously prepared, ensuring synchronicity, comprehensiveness, inclusiveness, implementation according to a roadmap, resource allocation, and ensuring that it does not disrupt political security and social order. The ultimate goal is to create room for development and improve the lives of the people.

Creating consensus and high levels of unity.

Like many other localities in the province, Kim Son district faced numerous difficulties in implementing the reorganization of commune-level administrative units. Specifically, unique factors related to historical traditions, culture, religion and beliefs, customs and practices, and natural conditions posed challenges to ensuring national defense, security, social order and safety, socio-economic development, and religious security in the newly reorganized localities.

Furthermore, the reorganization of administrative units will lead to a surplus of officials, civil servants, and non-specialized personnel. Since the staff in the localities undergoing reorganization are generally young (mostly recruited from 2007 onwards), reorganizing the administrative apparatus and addressing personnel reduction will be difficult without breakthrough and satisfactory solutions. In addition, there are the requirements for reorganizing surplus public offices and assets, and certain disruptions to people's lives due to changes in personal identification documents…

With the motto of strictly and effectively implementing the reorganization of administrative units, along with the timely issuance of guiding documents, Kim Son district focuses on information and communication work to create a high level of consensus and agreement among all strata of the people and especially those stakeholders involved in the reorganization of administrative units.

Comrade Ha Tien Dung, Chairman of the People's Committee of Binh Minh town, said: Following the district's directive on the reorganization of commune-level administrative units, in the period 2023-2025, Binh Minh town will merge with Kim Hai commune and the area of Unit 1080 (formerly part of the 1st Army Corps). Based on preliminary assessments, the reorganized Binh Minh town meets the criteria for a Type V urban area. This is a favorable condition for the town to expand its socio-economic development space. However, the reorganization will have some impact on the morale of officials and employees; causing disruption to production, business, and daily life of the people due to changes in documents, procedures, and addresses…

However, with strong political determination, the Town Party Committee has focused on leading and directing the implementation of the plan and roadmap for the reorganization project with the motto: Upholding the spirit of unity, promoting collective intelligence, a sense of responsibility, and setting an example for each cadre and Party member; doing a good job of propaganda and mobilization to effectively handle issues related to ideological work, aiming to create high consensus among cadres, civil servants, employees, Party members, and the people, ensuring that the merger does not affect the lives and activities of the people. Therefore, to date, the implementation of the administrative unit reorganization project in Binh Minh town has been carried out according to the roadmap, receiving the approval and support of cadres, Party members, and the people.

Mr. Le Ngoc Loi, residing in Block 4, Binh Minh town, shared: "Upon receiving information about the administrative unit reorganization, I couldn't help but feel worried and anxious. However, after receiving explanations from town officials, I realized that this is a correct policy of the Party and the State, so I agree with and am pleased with the reorganization plan proposed by the Party committees and authorities. As a grocery store owner, I believe that the merger with Kim Hai commune and Unit 1080 will provide more opportunities for my family to expand our business area and increase our family income."

With a sense of urgency and seriousness, Kim Son district is currently focusing on directing localities subject to reorganization to organize the collection of voter opinions on the plan for reorganizing commune-level administrative units, giai đoạn 2023-2025, ensuring democracy and promoting the right of voters and the people to participate. At the same time, it is directing the development of specific plans for the rearrangement of cadres, civil servants, and non-specialized personnel after the implementation of the reorganization plan, ensuring stability; and developing plans for the arrangement of offices and public assets after the reorganization of administrative units in accordance with regulations, appropriately, and avoiding waste…

Text and photos: Mai Lan

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