Enhancing the role of neighborhood cadres

After more than 2 months of operating the 2-level local government apparatus, localities in Ho Chi Minh City have focused on perfecting the commune-level apparatus and perfecting working regulations to improve management efficiency. This is also the time to maximize the role of neighborhood cadres - a force close to the people, both providing administrative support and participating in solving tasks in the community.

Pilot new model

Mr. Le Van Thanh (Road 429, Quarter 43, Tang Nhon Phu Ward) went to the ward office to handle procedures for people with meritorious services (children of martyrs). Here, he was enthusiastically guided. “When I arrived at the ward, I did not have to wait, the ward officials provided me with full information. The locality organizing the reception of documents at the ward like this is very convenient for the people and shows that the government is getting closer to the people,” Mr. Le Van Thanh happily commented.

Tang Nhon Phu Ward has a population of over 208,000 people, among the most populous wards in Ho Chi Minh City. The Ward Public Administration Service Center is always overloaded, so the Ward People's Committee has piloted 8 points to receive documents at the ward headquarters. People can make electronic copies, extract household registration, submit documents online, and receive instructions on procedures for policies for people with meritorious services right at the nearest ward headquarters.

Each reception point has 5-7 members, including: ward chief, local police, digital technology team, youth union members, grassroots security and regular militia. This shows that the ward is focusing strongly on investing and promoting the role of ward cadres to join the locality in solving tasks, reducing the workload for ward cadres and civil servants.

Officers of Ward 43, Tang Nhon Phu Ward receive and handle administrative procedures for people at the ward headquarters. Photo: PHUONG UYEN

According to the Chairman of the People's Committee of Tang Nhon Phu Ward, Cao Thi Ngoc Chau, the team currently working in the neighborhood are all people who have worked in previous agencies and units and have participated in professional training courses organized by the locality. This is a force with many years of experience, knowledge, skills, understanding of the area and closeness to the people.

Therefore, the ward has taken advantage of this resource to support ward officials in handling some simple administrative procedures. To increase the role of the neighborhood, the People's Committee of Tang Nhon Phu Ward continues to deploy in-depth training courses on legal knowledge; digital skills, operations on the National Public Service Portal; communication skills, propaganda skills, and people mobilization skills...

Rejuvenate the team

In many neighborhoods, the aging of the staff is a reality, requiring local authorities to find solutions to improve. For example, Ms. Nguyen Thi Loi, Head of Neighborhood 30 (Thu Duc Ward), is 81 years old this year. After the reorganization, she still has to take on the title of Neighborhood Head because there is no one to replace her. "I will try for another 6 months, but my health does not allow it," Ms. Loi shared.

In addition to age, the sensitivity to technology and acceptance of new policies of the elderly ward cadres are also limited. Ben Thanh Ward also encountered a similar situation when a Party cell secretary and ward chief resigned due to old age. The locality is considering a plan to mobilize civil servants to support the ward, while gradually rejuvenating the staff.

According to the plan, by May 31, 2026, wards and communes will not use non-professional staff as they do now. Leaders of many localities said they will review and seek opinions from the non-professional staff. If this team wishes to work in the neighborhood, the locality will consider and arrange them to suitable positions, contributing to further improving the quality and youth in the neighborhood.

According to Dr. Nguyen Duc Quyen, Ho Chi Minh City Academy of Officials, today's neighborhood officials are not only "extended arms" but must be the "small brains" of the commune-level government. When public services are strongly decentralized, the role of neighborhoods becomes important, participating in grasping the situation of residents, promptly handling on-site situations, reducing pressure on the commune level.

Dr. Nguyen Duc Quyen also commented that sending non-specialized ward officials to the residential area is an effective solution. With their existing professional expertise, this team will directly undertake work at the grassroots level, under the jurisdiction of the residential area, thereby helping to streamline the ward apparatus, focusing on direction, supervision and deeper specialization.

However, bringing non-professional ward cadres to the residential area is not just an administrative decision but requires a meticulous transformation strategy. The biggest challenge is how to make this team closely follow, understand and replace the "bridge" role of the previous residential cadres, who have been closely associated with the people for many years.

To achieve this goal, Dr. Nguyen Duc Quyen proposed applying the “mentor-mentee” model, meaning that in the beginning, non-professional officers transferred to the neighborhood will work with older neighborhood officers, learn experience in handling the community, and at the same time support the neighborhood officers in terms of new technology and policies. This is an important transitional step to ensure continuity and at the same time improve the quality of service to the people.

With the solutions implemented by localities in Ho Chi Minh City, the quality of the neighborhood apparatus is gradually being improved, so that each neighborhood official clearly sees his or her role and responsibilities, and participates more deeply with the locality in serving the people.

Tang Nhon Phu Ward is promoting in-depth training on law, digital skills, communication skills and propaganda for ward officials. It is expected that in September, the ward will launch a "Community Administrative Procedure Support Team". This team will go to the homes of the elderly and disadvantaged households to support them in carrying out death registration procedures, signature authentication, etc.

REVENUE

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/nang-cao-vai-tro-cua-can-bo-khu-pho-post811666.html