General Secretary To Lam's strong message on administrative reform

Along with the "revolution in streamlining the political system's organizational apparatus", General Secretary To Lam emphasized the need for "substantive" administrative reform, serving the people, aiming to improve people's lives, creating conditions for people. "Do not force people to run around asking for help here and there. The system requires procedures to be done at a single-window department but requires people to ask for help at many different doors," the General Secretary stated the reality.

"Doing procedures at the one-stop department but asking for permission at many doors" Recently, talking with voters in Hanoi after the 8th session of the 15th National Assembly, General Secretary To Lam spent a lot of time talking about the issue of removing bottlenecks for development, including issues of institutions and administrative procedures. The General Secretary asked: Why can't the country move forward, why can't the "ship" move? According to the General Secretary, "the goal is to move forward but there are hundreds of strings attached", there are cases where personal interests, negativity, corruption, and group interests hinder the common development, inserting regulations that make it difficult for others, make it difficult for the people. "How can we create development, mobilize the strength of the entire people, the strength of the entire political system to create development", said the General Secretary.

General Secretary To Lam talks with voters in Hanoi, December 3, 2024. Photo: Nhu Y.

The General Secretary also gave an example of things that localities cannot do. When asking for opinions from ministries, the ministries answered vaguely, or even did not answer, or only did it because of some benefits. "In order to serve the people, we should do it thoroughly, find out thoroughly to solve the problem, do not blame this or that," the General Secretary emphasized. From the above issue, the General Secretary clearly stated that it is necessary to reform administrative procedures for the people, creating conditions for the people. The General Secretary raised the question of why officials keep forcing people to photocopy this or that document, present this or that issue to prove it, while the state management agency should do it, should handle it for the people. "The process of forcing people to go to the ward or department 5 or 7 times will always generate this or that document or procedure," the General Secretary said, while stating his point of view, for example, the responsibility for proving the identity of the person doing the procedure belongs to the state management agency, it is impossible to force people to present all these documents and other documents such as ID card, marriage certificate, household registration book... while they already have a citizen identification card.

In the article "Digital Transformation", General Secretary To Lam pointed out the current situation: There are still cumbersome and outdated administrative procedures , going through many stages and many doors, wasting a lot of time and effort of people and businesses, easily giving rise to petty corruption, hindering development. The connection and sharing of data between the information systems of ministries, branches, localities and the national database is not smooth; many online public services are of low quality, the rate of users is not high; the organization and operation of "one-stop" departments at all levels in many places is not effective.

The General Secretary stated that it is necessary to "find the right disease" to solve the problem, aiming to improve people's lives and create favorable conditions for them. "Do not force people to run around and beg here and there. The system requires procedures to be done at a single-window department but requires them to beg at many windows," the General Secretary stated the reality. Referring to the issue of rearranging the organization, apparatus, and rearranging communes, wards, and towns in some localities, the General Secretary noted that when handling administrative procedures, it must not affect the daily life of the people. "Now there is a citizen identification card that determines the legal status of each person. This ID card cannot be faked, there cannot be a second one. This is a great effort, many countries have not yet been able to create such population data. Now they have also switched to electronic identification cards, many transactions can be carried out," the General Secretary said. From then on, according to the General Secretary, administrative procedures must be simpler, people no longer need many papers and documents. "In the past, applying for a passport was also difficult, queuing from early morning, lacking this or that document, then going home, then queuing again the next day. Now it is possible to do it at home. According to the report, it is even possible to print passports yourself. There are instructions to follow, people take photos, upload photos themselves; the authorities compare with the data center; provide information from citizen identification numbers...", the General Secretary said, at the same time, adding that this will help "officials have less trouble, making it easier for the people". A birth certificate, 5-6 agencies must participate . Previously, in many statements, especially at the National Assembly forum, General Secretary To Lam also emphasized the "bottleneck" in administrative procedures.

Regarding the issue of administrative procedure reform, General Secretary To Lam stated that it is necessary to "find the right disease" to solve it, aiming at the goal of improving people's lives and creating conditions for people. " Do not force people to run around asking for help here and there . The system requires procedures to be done at a single-window department but requires people to ask for help at many different doors," the General Secretary stated the reality.

Discussing in the National Assembly delegation, General Secretary To Lam gave specific examples of "a job that many people do, no one takes primary responsibility", causing anger among the people. "Just a birth certificate, 5-6 agencies have to participate. People spend a week to 10 days, sometimes people get bored, don't go to work, no problem. But it's not allowed, it's a procedure that must be done and must be reformed", the General Secretary stated. The General Secretary gave an example, a mother gives birth, the health station issues a birth certificate, then brings that certificate to the police to get an identification number, then goes to the judiciary to get a birth certificate. With the birth certificate, she returns to the police to register her household, then goes to the health station to get insurance... "Why not leave it right at that health station, allowing the mother 1-2 days to complete all the procedures? Why does she have to go to the judiciary, when of course people already have it, and have to go and present it, doing such miserable things?", the General Secretary said. From there, the General Secretary noted to review, see how to serve the people better, how to reduce effort on unnecessary work. Many things require reform of administrative procedures, reduction of the apparatus...

General Secretary To Lam speaks at a group discussion session at the National Assembly. Photo: Nhu Y.

General Secretary To Lam emphasized that digital transformation is a very big issue. It is necessary to popularize digital transformation to the entire population and society so that everyone knows how to use it and protect themselves. Previously, there was popular education to eliminate illiteracy, now there is a need for popular education to eliminate digital illiteracy. According to the General Secretary, agencies are currently preparing to organize the first National Conference on Science and Technology , to consider the orientation of science and technology development in the new period, including digital transformation.

In the article “Slim - Compact - Strong - Effective - Effective - Efficient”, General Secretary To Lam said that the intermediate level leads to time wasted through "many doors" of administrative procedures, causing obstacles, even creating bottlenecks, missing development opportunities. The cost of operating the organizational system is large, reducing resources for investment in development, ensuring national defense and security, improving the material and spiritual life of the people. One of the tasks set, according to the General Secretary, is to review relevant legal regulations to proactively prepare for amendments, supplements or new issuances in accordance with regulations, ensuring that the Party's policies are implemented as quickly as possible after being unanimously approved by the Central Committee. Focus on perfecting the laws on the organization and operation of agencies in the political system, associated with the spirit of promoting decentralization and delegation of power with the motto "locality decides, locality does, locality is responsible". The Central Government, the Government and the National Assembly strengthen institutional improvement, play a creative role and strengthen inspection, supervision and maximum reform of administrative procedures, reduce costs, and create the greatest convenience for people and businesses. Clearly define the tasks and powers of agencies, organizations and individuals in the state apparatus, ensuring a clear distinction between the level of promulgation of policies, laws and the level of implementation.

In the article "Digital transformation", General Secretary To Lam emphasized: Promoting digital transformation associated with ensuring security and safety is an objective necessity for Vietnam to make a breakthrough in the new era. According to the General Secretary, it is necessary to focus on building a digital society, comprehensively digitizing state management activities, and providing high-level online public services. Synchronously connecting national databases on population, land, and enterprises, creating a foundation for streamlining the apparatus and reforming administrative procedures. Developing a digital economy creates new momentum for growth; promoting the application of digital technology in all industries and fields, creating new business models. Developing digital citizens, equipping people with the necessary knowledge and skills for effective participation in the digital economy and digital society, ensuring that no one is left behind...

Source: https://tienphong.vn/thong-diep-manh-me-cua-tong-bi-thu-to-lam-ve-cai-cach-hanh-chinh-post1699381.tpo