Letters connect government with people

Hoang Thai is the first commune in Hoang Hoa district to send “Condolence Letters” when someone in the commune passes away; send “Congratulation Letters” to happy couples who register their marriage and when a “baby” citizen is born. The words in the letters are short but concise, sharing joy and sadness with citizens, truly creating a closer and more connected relationship between the government and the people.

Letters connect government with people The People's Committee of Ba Dinh Ward ( Thanh Hoa City) coordinated with the ward's youth union to present marriage certificates and "Congratulation letters" to the couple registering for marriage.

Mr. Bui Van Tung, a resident of Hoang Thai commune, shared: “My wife and I came to receive our marriage certificate and were very surprised when the commune leader gave us a “Congratulation Letter”. This is something very new compared to before, showing the local government’s concern for the people and also integrating marriage and family education in a very practical way”.

Chairman of the People's Committee of Hoang Thai Commune, Trinh Huu Vui, said: In early 2022, Hoang Thai was the first commune in the province to be selected by the Provincial Party Committee's Mass Mobilization Committee to build a pilot model of "Friendly Government, Serving the People". True to the name of the model, after more than 1 year of implementation, it has created a positive change in the awareness and actions of the team of cadres and civil servants of the commune in terms of spirit and responsibility in serving the people, especially in handling administrative procedures (TTHC). This is demonstrated by sending letters sharing joys and sorrows with the people. In 2022 and the first 5 months of 2023, Hoang Thai commune sent 93 congratulatory letters, 34 condolence letters and 15 thank you letters to the people. Initially, the people were quite surprised, but so far this work has received sympathy from many people.

From the pilot model in Hoang Thai commune, many communes and towns in Hoang Hoa district have implemented the model of "Friendly Government, Serving the People" with 6 specific solutions: doing a good job of disseminating the purpose and meaning of the model. Localities build signs; sample letters and survey forms; administrative reform; implement civility, office culture and code of conduct; receive citizens, organize dialogues and resolve complaints and denunciations of citizens. In particular, the government's handing of letters to people, in addition to disseminating the law, also creates closeness between the government and the people. When the government and the people are close, understanding and listening are also easier. In particular, in handling administrative procedures, just a small operation to make it easy for people to access will greatly reduce the burden of state management of law.

Implementing the model of "Friendly Government, Serving the People", Dong Son district also focuses on building "apology letters" - admitting mistakes to organizations and individuals when not resolving administrative procedures on time or not promptly. At the same time, there are "Thank you letters" for groups and individuals who have contributed ideas or contributed their efforts, intelligence, and finances to build the locality; "Congratulation letters" for new born citizens and congratulations to couples registering for marriage; "Condolence letters" for families when a relative passes away. Accordingly, communes and towns in Dong Son district have sent 3,672 types of letters, including 3,015 congratulatory letters, 637 condolence letters, and 20 thank you letters. Chairman of Dong Minh Commune People's Committee Le Van Hung said: "We clearly define that if the commune processes the application later than the prescribed time, it is the commune's responsibility. The commune must notify the reason in writing to explain and apologize to citizens and organizations so that people understand and avoid unnecessary frustration. I am very happy that in 2022 and the first months of 2023, the commune does not have to send apology letters to the people."

Implementing the model of "Friendly Government, Serving the People" in the period of 2021-2022, the whole province has built and replicated 140 models. Accordingly, communes, wards and towns implementing the model have sent 285 thank you letters, 44 apology letters, 2,888 wedding congratulatory letters, 7,187 birth congratulatory letters, and 2,969 condolence letters to people. Thanh Hoa City is the locality with the largest number of letters sent to people in the province (7,034 of all kinds). Although the work is small, it shows the timely attention and encouragement of local authorities to the happy and sad events of the people and creates satisfaction for many people. The results of the survey to assess people's satisfaction with all levels of government in 140 models across the province show that the satisfaction level is 90% or higher. Some localities have high satisfaction ratings such as: Ngoc Lac 100%, Vinh Loc 100%, Hoang Hoa 100%, Dong Son 100%, Nong Cong 98.5%...

The letters are delivered, the joy will be doubled, the sadness will be lessened. There will be more letters delivered to the people when the Provincial People's Committee issued Plan No. 123/KH-UBND, dated May 17, 2023 on implementing the construction and replication of the model "Friendly Government, Serving the People" in Thanh Hoa province in the period of 2023-2030 with the goal that by 2025, the whole province will have 50% of communes, wards and towns meeting the standards of "Friendly Government, Serving the People"; by 2030, 100% of communes, wards and towns will meet the standards of "Friendly Government, Serving the People".

Article and photos: To Phuong

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