Directive No. 18/2000/CT-TTg on Strengthening Mass Mobilization Work

DIRECTIVE

ON STRENGTHENING POPULAR WORK

The nature of our State is a State of the people, by the people, and for the people under the leadership of the Party. The people are the ones who implement the policies and guidelines of the Party, the policies and laws of the State, and the tasks of the Government and mass organizations, therefore they must be informed, consulted, and supervised. Therefore, not only front organizations but also all levels of state authorities from central to local must engage in popular work. In his article "Popular Work" on October 15, 1949, President Ho Chi Minh clearly stated: "All cadres of state administration, all cadres of mass organizations, and all members of people's organizations (Lien Viet, Viet Minh...) must be responsible for popular work."

Adhering to the Party's mass viewpoint and following the teachings of Uncle Ho, in recent years, especially since the implementation of the renewal policy, the Government has implemented many policies, programs, and investment projects to develop the economy and society, eradicate poverty, and promote grassroots democracy to better and more fully exercise the people's right to mastery. The Government has directed ministries, sectors at the central level, and localities to implement administrative reform programs, combat corruption, smuggling, bureaucracy, waste, and arbitrary power, and address procedures that cause inconvenience to the people. Ministries, sectors, particularly People's Committees at all levels have increasingly coordinated with the Vietnam Fatherland Front and its member organizations to effectively carry out popular work.

However, due to insufficient and inadequate understanding of the importance of popular work, many cadres and civil servants still do not closely connect with the people and listen to their opinions; their working style remains bureaucratic, arbitrary, and heavy-handed, relying on command and administrative measures, imposing solutions, and neglecting mobilization and persuasion. The coordination between state management agencies and the Vietnam Fatherland Front and its member organizations in some grassroots units in popular work is still not specific and effective.

To implement the Party's Resolution and Uncle Ho's teachings on popular work, the Prime Minister issues the following directive:

1. Ministers, Heads of ministerial-level agencies, Heads of agencies under the Government, Chairpersons of People's Committees at all levels within their respective jurisdictions:

- Must direct and have regular plans to publicize and educate awareness about popular work. On "Popular Work Day" on October 15 each year, they need to strengthen guidance and implementation of learning the article "Popular Work" by President Ho Chi Minh, the Party's Resolution on popular work, and the article "Remember October 15" by Comrade Le Khac Hoe, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam... to create new changes in awareness and action regarding popular work.

- Improve state management capacity, change working methods towards democratization and transparency, combat bureaucracy, arbitrariness, and corruption. Strictly implement grassroots democratic regulations; continue to vigorously reform administration, review and abolish documents contrary to the law, beyond authority, and cumbersome administrative procedures causing inconvenience to the people; when drafting legal documents, policies, and implementing programs and projects, organize broad consultations with the people, adopt their suggestions, make legal documents, policies, programs, and projects consistent with reality, legitimate interests, and reasonable aspirations of the people, and gain their support.

- Strengthen inspection, supervision, and strictly handle acts of harassment, oppression of the people, infringement of legitimate interests and rights of the people, and promptly resolve citizens' petitions, complaints, and denunciations. In the remaining months of 2000, local governments at all levels should have specific programs and plans to focus on resolving urgent issues of the people concerning housing, land, and other social policies.

2. Cadres and civil servants at the central, provincial, and district levels must have programs to go to grassroots levels, closely follow reality, meet and interact with the people, listen to their opinions and aspirations, and explain and publicize state policies and laws.

3. The Ho Chi Minh National Political Academy shall cooperate with the National Administration Academy to supplement and perfect the content of popular work to be included in the teaching programs of provincial and centrally-administered city political schools and training and upgrading institutions for cadres and civil servants.

4. Mass media outlets, from central to local levels, need to have special topics on popular work and state agencies engaged in popular work; provide timely information and allocate appropriate time to introduce and publicize popular work; promptly commend individuals and collectives performing well in popular work.

5. Ministers, Heads of ministerial-level agencies, Heads of agencies under the Government, and Chairpersons of People's Committees at all levels need to strengthen cooperation with Party agencies, People's Courts, People's Procuratorates at all levels, and political-social mass organizations and social organizations to leverage comprehensive strength in building and implementing popular work.

Based on this Directive, Ministers, Heads of ministerial-level agencies, Heads of agencies under the Government, and Chairpersons of provincial and centrally-administered city People's Committees need to develop specific plans to implement it.

The Government's Organization and Cadre Department shall take the lead, coordinate with the Central Popular Work Department to monitor, urge the implementation of this Directive, and report periodically to the Prime Minister.