Decision No. 504/QD-BNN-TCCB on the Regulation on the Operation of the Steering Committee for the Agriculture and Rural Development Program in the Central Highlands

Pursuant to …;

Issuing the Regulation on the Operation of the Steering Committee for the Agricultural and Rural Development Program in the Central Highlands

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 THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT

Pursuant to Decree No. 01/2008/ND-CP dated January 3, 2008 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development;

Pursuant to Decision No. 503/QD-BNN-TCCB dated February 15, 2008 of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development regarding the establishment of the Steering Committee for the Agricultural and Rural Development Program in the Central Highlands;

At the proposal of the Director of the Department of Cooperative Economy and Rural Development and the Head of the Personnel Department,

DECISION:

Article 1. This Decision promulgates the Regulation on the Operation of the Steering Committee for the Agricultural and Rural Development Program in the Central Highlands.

Article 2. This Decision takes effect from the date of signing and replaces Decision No. 641/QD/BNN-TCCB dated March 24, 2005 of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development on the issuance of the Regulation on the Operation of the Steering Committee for the Agricultural and Rural Development Program in the Central Highlands.

Article 3. Members of the Steering Committee for the Agricultural and Rural Development Program in the Central Highlands, the Head of the Ministry's Office, the Head of the Personnel Department, and Heads of related agencies and units shall be responsible for implementing this Decision.

REGULATIONS

Operation of the Steering Committee for the Agricultural and Rural Development Program in the Central Highlands
(Annexed to Decision No. 504/QD-BNN-TCCB dated February 15, 2008

of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development)

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 PART I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. The Steering Committee for the Agricultural and Rural Development Program in the Central Highlands (hereinafter referred to as the Steering Committee) shall assist the Minister in directing the development of programs, action plans, implementation, inspection, and supervision of agricultural and rural development activities in the Central Highlands provinces according to Decision No. 504/QD-BNN-TCCB dated February 15, 2008 of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development on the establishment of the Steering Committee for the Agricultural and Rural Development Program in the Central Highlands.

Article 2. The duties, powers, and composition of the Steering Committee for the Agricultural and Rural Development Program in the Central Highlands are stipulated in Decision No. 504/QD-BNN-TCCB dated February 15, 2008 of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Article 3. Operating funds and working conditions:

1. The operating funds of the Steering Committee and the Steering Committee's Office shall be approved by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development and included in the management costs of the Ministry's Programs, including:

a) Allowances for members concurrently serving on the Steering Committee and staff supporting the Steering Committee's Office;

b) Costs for work trips, field inspections, etc.;

c) Costs for purchasing equipment and office supplies;

d) Costs for meetings and other regular expenses.

2. The Steering Committee shall coordinate with the Department of Cooperative Economy and Rural Development, the Planning Department, and the Finance Department to prepare the budget for working conditions and operating funds of the Steering Committee and the Steering Committee's Office annually for approval by the Ministry.

3. Concurrent members (and full-time members) of the Steering Committee and the Steering Committee's Office shall be entitled to additional allowances according to current regulations.

4. Working conditions, means of operation, and operating funds of the Steering Committee and the Steering Committee's Office shall be provided through the account of the Department of Cooperative Economy and Rural Development according to the budget approved by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development and settled into the management costs of the Department.

Chapter II

ASSIGNMENT OF RESPONSIBILITIES FOR MEMBERS AND TASKS OF THE STEERING COMMITTEE'S OFFICE

Article 4. Assignment of responsibilities among members of the Steering Committee:

1. Chairman, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development:

a) Decide and bear responsibility before the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development for all activities of the Steering Committee;

b) Direct overall operations and approve the work plan of the Steering Committee; chair meetings of the Steering Committee, directly exchange work and inspect actual situations at localities;

c) Direct relevant units within the Ministry, coordinate with other Ministries, sectors, and localities to resolve specific issues related to agricultural and rural development in the Central Highlands provinces;

d) Inspect and urge relevant units within the Ministry and related localities to implement agricultural and rural development activities in the Central Highlands provinces;

e) Delegate authority to Deputy Chairmen or other members of the Steering Committee to handle matters within the Chairman's jurisdiction when necessary.

2. Permanent Vice-Chairman, Director of the Department of Cooperative Economy and Rural Development:

a) Assist the Chairman in managing and resolving matters within the Steering Committee's responsibilities;

b) Act on behalf of the Chairman of the Steering Committee to coordinate with relevant units within the Ministry, other Ministries, sectors, and localities to resolve issues related to agricultural and rural development in the Central Highlands provinces;

c) Directly direct, report to the Chairman and the Steering Committee on the progress and implementation of the program; propose solutions to emerging issues in agricultural and rural development activities in the Central Highlands provinces;

d) Be responsible for the operation of the Steering Committee's Office;

e) Be responsible for directing and urging the implementation of assigned programs and projects to fulfill agricultural and rural development activities in the Central Highlands provinces.

3. Deputy Chairman, Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Dak Lak Province:

a) Assist the Chairman of the Steering Committee in overseeing, inspecting, and urging related localities to implement assigned tasks in agricultural and rural development activities;

b) Propose solutions to emerging issues in agricultural and rural development activities in the Central Highlands provinces.

4. Members of the Steering Committee:

Members of the Steering Committee shall be invited to attend meetings related to their assigned fields.

a) Director of the Forestry Department:

- Direct the development of planning, programs, and models for forestry development in the Central Highlands provinces;

- Propose policies and guidelines for forestry development suitable for the Central Highlands provinces;

- Guide the restructuring of production structures to develop forestry, direct the implementation of programs and projects for forestry development in the Central Highlands provinces;

b) Deputy Director of the Planning Department:

- Propose and compile plans for agricultural and rural development in the Central Highlands provinces into the annual plan of the sector;

- Guide the construction of annual plans for agricultural and rural development work in the Central Highlands provinces;

- Propose the establishment of policies to encourage investment for agricultural and rural development work in the Central Highlands provinces;

c) Directors of the Bureaus: Water Resources, Aquaculture; Deputy Directors of the Bureaus: Forest Protection, Crop Production, Livestock Breeding; Directors of the National Agricultural Extension Center, National Center for Rural Water Supply and Environmental Sanitation based on their assigned functions and tasks and their units' action programs to direct the Central Highlands provinces in agricultural and rural development work;

d) Directors of the Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development in the Central Highlands provinces:

- Direct the implementation of programs and projects for agricultural and rural development in the province;

- Direct the development of annual plans for agricultural and rural development work in the province;

- Direct and monitor the resolution of residential land and production land for poor ethnic minority groups in the province;

- Report on the implementation of agricultural and rural development work in the province according to regular schedules and upon request from the Steering Committee for the Central Highlands;

đ) Representatives of the leadership of the Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development in the provinces: Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh, Phu Yen, Khanh Hoa, Binh Phuoc (referred to as provinces adjacent to the Central Highlands):

- Direct the implementation of programs and projects for agricultural and rural development in the province, especially in western counties;

- Direct the development of annual plans for agricultural and rural development work in the province, especially in western counties;

- Direct and monitor the resolution of residential land and production land for poor ethnic minority groups in the province, especially in western counties;

- Report on the implementation of agricultural and rural development work in the province according to regular schedules and upon request from the Steering Committee for the Central Highlands;

e) Director of the Institute of Science and Technology for Agriculture and Forestry in the Central Highlands:

- Direct research and technology transfer to the Central Highlands provinces;

- Apply scientific and technological advancements in agriculture and forestry for the Central Highlands provinces;

g) Representatives of the Board of Directors of the Vietnam Rubber Industry Group; Representatives of the Boards of Directors of the Vietnam Coffee Corporation, Vietnam Forestry Corporation: Based on assigned tasks and unit action programs, direct the development of plans to attract labor from the Central Highlands provinces (especially ethnic minority labor) to participate in production, plans to transfer poor forest and orchard land to provide residential land for ethnic minorities;

Article 5. The Office of the Steering Committee for the Central Highlands assists the Steering Committee for the Central Highlands, located at the Bureau of Cooperative Economy and Rural Development and a permanent office stationed in Buon Ma Thuot city, Dak Lak province;

1. The Office of the Steering Committee for the Central Highlands is headed by the Director of the Bureau of Cooperative Economy and Rural Development;

2. Members of the Office of the Steering Committee for the Central Highlands include the Chief of the Office being the Director of the Bureau of Cooperative Economy and Rural Development operating under a concurrent position; Deputy Chiefs and permanent staff at the Office consist of officials and specialists from some units under the Ministry working under a concurrent or dedicated position as decided by the Office Chief (if dedicated, must be approved by the Minister);

3. Tasks of the Office of the Steering Committee for the Central Highlands:

a) Draft programs and action plans for coordinated guidance on agricultural and forestry development and rural development in the Central Highlands provinces through discussions with the Steering Committee for the Central Highlands for approval by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development for implementation;

b) Develop the program of activities for the Head of the Steering Committee and the Steering Committee for the Central Highlands;

c) Inspect and urge the Central Highlands provinces (and adjacent provinces), relevant agencies, and units to implement action programs and tasks for agricultural and rural development in the Central Highlands provinces (and western counties of adjacent provinces) according to approved plans and programs;

d) Prepare the annual budget for the Steering Committee for the Central Highlands and its Office for approval by the competent authority;

đ) Manage funds allocated according to the approved plan and in accordance with state policies and regulations;

e) Approve the annual budget for the Steering Committee for the Central Highlands and its Office;

g) Compile regular and urgent reports from the Central Highlands provinces and relevant agencies and units for the Head of the Steering Committee to report to the Ministry and Government according to regular schedules and upon request;

Article 6. Permanent Office of the Steering Committee for the Central Highlands:

1. The permanent office of the Steering Committee for the Central Highlands located in Buon Ma Thuot city, Dak Lak province consists of officials and specialists with expertise in water resources, forestry, crop production, livestock breeding, cooperative economy, and rural development, headed by the Deputy Chief of the Steering Committee Office (equivalent to Deputy Director General or Director of Department);

2. The Deputy Chief responsible for the permanent office has the duty to guide members to coordinate with the Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development in the Central Highlands provinces and adjacent provinces in agricultural and rural development work. In cases exceeding the authority to resolve according to assigned tasks, they must report to the Chief of the Office, and in urgent cases, directly report to the Head of the Steering Committee for the Central Highlands;

3. Tasks of the permanent office of the Steering Committee for the Central Highlands:

a) Assist the Steering Committee for the Central Highlands in directly guiding the implementation of tasks related to the development of agriculture and rural areas in the Central Highland provinces (and western districts of provinces bordering the Central Highlands);

b) Coordinate with relevant Departments and Bureaus under the Ministry to unify issues within their expertise and assist the Steering Committee for the Central Highlands and the Ministry's leadership in directing tasks assigned by the Ministry's leadership;

c) Perform other tasks assigned by the Chairman of the Steering Committee for the Central Highlands.

Article 7. The Steering Committee for the Central Highlands operates on the principle of centralized unity; members of the Steering Committee are responsible for implementing tasks within their designated fields.

The Chairman decides matters concerning the Steering Committee for the Central Highlands. The Chairman, Deputy Chairmen, members of the Steering Committee for the Central Highlands, and staff assisting them work on a part-time and full-time basis.

Chapter III

WORKING REGIME AND INFORMATION REPORTING

Article 8. The Steering Committee for the Central Highlands serves as the coordinating body with agencies and units within the Ministry and related Ministries and sectors to direct and inspect the implementation of tasks related to the development of agriculture and rural areas, and mechanisms and policies that have been issued; at the same time, propose supplements, amendments, or new mechanisms and policies, and solutions applicable to the Central Highland provinces (and western districts of provinces bordering the Central Highlands) to fulfill the tasks assigned by the Ministry.

Article 9. The Chairman of the Steering Committee for the Central Highlands convenes and chairs regular meetings and extraordinary meetings as required. Deputy Chairmen are authorized by the Chairman to chair meetings. Members are responsible for attending fully and preparing reports according to regulations.

Members of the Steering Committee for the Central Highlands who are absent from meetings must delegate authority to officers to attend on their behalf. Officers delegated by members of the Steering Committee for the Central Highlands to attend meetings must be familiar with their unit's action program and report on the progress of implementing tasks related to the development of agriculture and rural areas in the Central Highland provinces (and western districts of provinces bordering the Central Highlands) of their unit; they must also immediately report to the head of their agency or unit after the meeting.

Article 10. The purpose of regular meetings is to evaluate the activities of the Steering Committee, the results of task implementation by localities, agencies, and units; and to request the Ministry to resolve issues beyond their authority.

Article 11. Information and reporting regime:

a) The Office of the Steering Committee for the Central Highlands is responsible for promptly providing necessary materials related to the assigned field of work to members of the Steering Committee;

b) Members of the Steering Committee for the Central Highlands report regularly (quarterly and annually) on the implementation of tasks assigned by the Chairman of the Steering Committee to address requests and proposals in a timely manner. (Quarterly reports must be submitted to the Office of the Steering Committee for the Central Highlands at the Cooperative Economic Bureau and Rural Development Department before the 10th day of the first month of each quarter);

c) In September each year, members of the Steering Committee for the Central Highlands review the Steering Committee's report on the implementation of tasks and plans for the year by localities, related agencies, and units, and approve plans and schedules for the following year;

d) Members of the Steering Committee for the Central Highlands are responsible for submitting ad hoc reports on matters requested by the Chairman of the Steering Committee; the Chairman of the Steering Committee for the Central Highlands submits ad hoc reports to the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development on the situation of agricultural and rural development in the Central Highland provinces (and western districts of provinces bordering the Central Highlands) upon request.

In addition to the tasks assigned in Article 4, members of the Steering Committee for the Central Highlands are responsible for monitoring, supervising, and evaluating the results of implemented tasks, plans, and policies that have been approved; and reporting to the Steering Committee for the Central Highlands within the prescribed timeframe.

Article 12. Documents and texts sent and received by the Steering Committee for the Central Highlands are managed, used, and stored in accordance with state regulations and the Ministry's regulations on issuing documents and retaining records.

Article 13. Based on work requirements and work programs, the Steering Committee for the Central Highlands organizes working trips or members proactively go on working trips to monitor, understand the situation, and resolve difficulties and obstacles within their functions and assigned tasks.

Chapter IV

IMPLEMENTING PROVISIONS

Article 14. Members of the Steering Committee for the Central Highlands are accountable to the Chairman, and to the heads of agencies and units managing personnel for the tasks assigned by the Chairman, using means and equipment managed by their units to perform assigned tasks.

Article 15. During the implementation of the operational regulations, if there are any difficulties, the Office of the Steering Committee for the Central Highlands will compile opinions and propose contents for revision to be reported to the Steering Committee for consideration and decision by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development./.