Directive No. 50-TTg Regarding the Organization of the International Year of Disabled Persons

DIRECTIVE

ON THE ORGANIZATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF DISABLED PERSONS

In response to the International Year of Disabled Persons proposed by the United Nations, the Vietnam Committee for the International Year of Disabled Persons has been established.

The Committee has approved the program of activities for the International Year of Disabled Persons in our country, guiding and coordinating the activities of relevant sectors and mass organizations at central and local levels to implement this program.

Some sectors and mass organizations at the central level have issued directives guiding their respective activities at the local level and have begun implementing necessary tasks. Many provinces and cities have established Committees for the International Year of Disabled Persons, and some places have developed activity programs and implemented them down to the district and ward levels. However, the implementation of the program is still slow: some provinces and cities have not yet completed organizational structures or specific activity programs; work has only just started to be implemented down to the district level, not reaching the grassroots level or the disabled people themselves. Many tasks under the responsibility of certain central sectors and local authorities have not been carried out according to the prescribed time frame or have not been initiated.

To address these shortcomings and ensure that the organization of the International Year of Disabled Persons in our country meets the desired requirements, reflecting the fine tradition of mutual care and support among our people, embodying the spirit of the new constitution of our country, and demonstrating the concern of the Party and State for the disabled, the Prime Minister requests all sectors, mass organizations at the central level, and People's Committees at provincial and municipal levels to intensify activities related to the International Year of Disabled Persons according to the proposed program and focus on promptly completing the following urgent tasks:

1. Localities need to complete the establishment of Committees for the International Year of Disabled Persons at the provincial and municipal levels and at the district and town levels by the first quarter of 1981, with a streamlined structure; quickly bring activities down to the commune and ward levels. It is necessary to leverage the role of mass organizations, build and consolidate the organization of the blind at both central and local levels; develop and promote the regular movement of the masses to care for and assist the disabled.

2. By the first quarter of 1981, sectors and mass organizations at the central level, especially those that are members of the Committee for the International Year of Disabled Persons, and local authorities at all levels must complete the development of their own programs of activities for the International Year of Disabled Persons. Sectors and mass organizations must strengthen supervision, guidance, and promotion of activities at lower levels, particularly at the grassroots level, to achieve tangible results.

3. News agencies, broadcasting stations, television stations, cultural and artistic organizations, and social organizations need to plan propaganda and education about the significance and program of activities for the International Year of Disabled Persons in our country, encouraging everyone to understand correctly and empathize deeply with the difficulties faced by the disabled population; actively care for and help war invalids and the disabled to stabilize their lives, create conditions for the disabled to participate appropriately in various beneficial social activities, and encourage war invalids and the disabled to enhance self-reliance, strive to overcome all difficulties, and organize their lives well while fulfilling their civic duties.

4. The Ministry of Health will coordinate with the Ministry of War Invalids and Social Affairs and the General Statistics Office to immediately guide localities to conduct a basic survey on the situation of the disabled in our country during the first quarter of 1981 to obtain reliable data as a basis for researching plans, policies, and measures to build and develop services for war invalids, veterans, and the disabled.

The Ministry of Health together with the Ministry of War Invalids and Social Affairs should soon develop plans for the following areas of activity:

- Review and gradually develop the system of orthopedic and rehabilitation organizations at all levels nationwide.

- Address the aftermath of war injuries for war invalids and the consequences of diseases for children.

- Expand rehabilitation work in hospitals.

- Promote the construction of facilities approved in the state plan, review and guide localities in implementing new construction projects.

5. The Ministry of Education, in collaboration with the Ministry of War Invalids and Social Affairs and the Ministry of Health, should guide provinces and cities in developing proposals for establishing schools and classes to care for and educate children with disabilities (blindness, deafness, muteness, intellectual developmental delay, and other disabilities); unify regulations on the management responsibilities for these schools and classes nationwide. In the short term, the Ministry of Education needs to issue early educational programs for deaf and mute children and blind children, while continuing to research educational programs for children with other disabilities; it is necessary to develop plans for training, upgrading, and researching policies and systems for the staff directly involved in managing, teaching, and serving children with disabilities. Assist localities in resolving equipment issues for schools and classes for children with disabilities. In the second semester of the 1980-1981 academic year, a campaign should be launched in schools to care for, assist, and educate people with disabilities.

The Ministry of Education, in collaboration with the Ministry of War Invalids and Social Affairs, the Ministry of Health, the Committee for the Protection of Mothers and Children, the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, and the Committee for Children and Adolescents, should study the care and education work for children with disabilities at preschool and adolescent ages.

6. The Ministry of Labor should study to be able to submit to the Government by the end of 1981 a list of occupations reserved for the disabled, policies and systems for disabled workers, coordinate with scientific research institutes and production units to develop equipment, tools, and means suitable for disabled workers to facilitate their work and increase productivity; collaborate with the Ministry of Health to coordinate with relevant government departments to guide, inspect, and urge measures to ensure workplace safety and hygiene.

7. The Vocational Training General Department shall cooperate with the Ministry of Labor to expand vocational training, improve skills, provide career guidance, and utilize disabled individuals who still have the ability to work; in the short term, guide localities to make full use of the capabilities of small-scale and handicraft industries for vocational training, skill transmission, and job placement for disabled individuals.

8. The Ministry of War Invalids and Social Affairs shall be responsible for leading and coordinating with relevant sectors to complete the draft Ordinance on ensuring the rights and obligations of disabled individuals according to the spirit of the new Constitution in the second or third quarter; guide the implementation of policies for centralized production units of disabled individuals and study the organization of a social fund specifically for the development of welfare facilities and assistance for disabled individuals based on the support of the people, contributions from cooperatives, and state budget sponsorship.

In conjunction with the International Year of Disabled Persons, depending on specific conditions, localities may organize various forms of activities and labor to raise funds for war invalids and disabled persons. The Ministry of War Invalids and Social Affairs, together with the Ministry of Health and related sectors, shall develop a program to seek aid for disabled persons in the first quarter of 1981, and propose to the Council of Ministers methods for receiving, managing, and utilizing such aid; promptly study and submit to the Council of Ministers an appropriate organizational form to continue activities for disabled persons after the completion of the International Year of Disabled Persons committees at all levels.

Alongside all the aforementioned matters, all levels, sectors, and production units must strictly direct and implement internal regulations and discipline regarding workplace safety, traffic safety, and strengthen education for everyone about accident prevention awareness to minimize the occurrence of disabilities that cause human misfortune.

Organizing the International Year of Disabled Persons well has significant importance. All sectors, all levels, and all social organizations need to fully exercise their responsibilities, authorities, and capabilities to ensure that our country's program of activities in this area achieves substantial results.

The Vietnam Committee for the International Year of Disabled Persons shall assist the Government in guiding, coordinating, monitoring, and urging sectors, mass organizations, and localities to effectively implement this directive and propose to the Government consideration of necessary issues; propose commendation for sectors, localities, and individuals with outstanding achievements in this meaningful work.