Decision No. 56/2013/QĐ-TTg on amending and supplementing certain articles of Decision No. 18/2011/QĐ-TTg dated March 18, 2011 of the Government on policies for persons of trust among ethnic minority communities.

Pursuant to …;

Regarding amendments and supplements to certain provisions

of Decision No. 18/2011/QĐ-TTg dated March 18, 2011

of the Prime Minister on policies for persons of prestige

among ethnic minority communities

Pursuant to the Law on Organization of the Government dated December 25, 2001;

Pursuant to Decree No. 05/2011/NĐ-CP dated January 14, 2011 of the Government on ethnic affairs;

At the proposal of the Minister, Head of the Committee for Ethnic Minorities;

The Prime Minister promulgates this Decision regarding amendments and supplements to certain provisions of Decision No. 18/2011/QĐ-TTg dated March 18, 2011 of the Prime Minister on policies for persons of prestige among ethnic minority communities,

Article 1. Amending and supplementing certain provisions of Decision No. 18/2011/QĐ-TTg dated March 18, 2011 of the Prime Minister on policies for persons of prestige among ethnic minority communities:

1. Clause 2 shall be amended and supplemented as follows:

"Article 2. Scope of Application

1. The subjects entitled to benefits under this Decision are persons of prestige among ethnic minority communities (hereinafter referred to as persons of prestige) who meet the following criteria:

a) They are Vietnamese citizens residing legally and stably in ethnic minority areas;

b) They and their families serve as exemplary models in complying with the Party's guidelines and policies, State laws, and local regulations where they reside; they have made significant contributions to building and protecting villages, hamlets, and similar units (hereinafter referred to as villages), maintaining ethnic unity;

c) They are outstanding individuals with influence within their family lineage, ethnic group, village, and community; they maintain close ties with ethnic minorities, understand traditional culture, customs, and practices of their ethnic group; they possess the ability to unite and mobilize ethnic minority people within a defined scope, and are trusted and followed by the people in their community;

2. Conditions and procedures for recognizing persons of prestige

a) Each village in ethnic minority areas must have at least one-third of households or population from ethnic minorities elect one person of prestige.

In cases where villages do not meet the conditions or have multiple ethnic groups coexisting, based on actual circumstances and proposals from the Chairman of the People's Committee of the district, town, or city directly under the province (hereinafter referred to as district), the Director of the Ethnic Minority Department of the province will compile and submit to the Chairman of the People's Committee of the province for consideration and decision on the number and election of persons of prestige in villages according to regulations, but the total number of persons of prestige shall not exceed the total number of villages in ethnic minority areas of the locality;

b) A multi-sector village conference (Village Party Branch, Village Chief, Village Mass Organization Representative, and other village-level organizations chaired by the Village Mass Organization Representative) will elect and list candidates to be reviewed by the People's Committee of the commune, township, or town, then submitted to the People's Committee of the district for review and forwarded to the Ethnic Minority Department of the province for approval by the Chairman of the People's Committee of the province;

c) Annually, the Chairman of the People's Committee of the province will direct the review, evaluation, and decision to remove from the list those who no longer have prestige or have passed away, and the election of new persons of prestige according to the provisions of Point b Clause 2 Article 4 herein.”

2. Point c, d Clause 2 Article 4 are amended and supplemented as follows:

“c) Households of persons of prestige facing difficulties due to natural disasters; the death of parents, spouse, children, or the person of prestige themselves will be visited and慰问因自然灾害而遇到困难的有威信户；慰问去世的有威信人员的父母、配偶、子女或本人。中央机关每次不超过2000元/户/年；省级机关每次不超过1000元/户/年；县级机关每次不超过500元/户/年。

d) If a person of prestige is injured while performing their duties and meets the conditions stipulated in Article 27 of Decree No. 31/2013/NĐ-CP dated April 9, 2013 of the Government detailing and guiding the implementation of certain provisions of the Ordinance on Preferential Treatment for Persons Contributing to the Revolution, they shall enjoy the same preferential treatment as war invalids; if they die while performing their duties and meet the conditions stipulated in Article 17 of Decree No. 31/2013/NĐ-CP of the Government, the competent authority shall consider and decide to recognize them as martyrs and grant preferential treatment according to the Ordinance on Preferential Treatment for Persons Contributing to the Revolution.”

3. Supplement Clause 4 Article 4 as follows:

“4. Delegations of persons of prestige shall be received and presented with gifts when visiting and working at agencies responsible for managing and receiving persons of prestige; expenditures shall be implemented according to the regulations on domestic reception expenses.”

4. Clause 1, 3 Article 6 are amended and supplemented as follows:

“1. The National Ethnic Minorities Commission shall take the lead and coordinate with relevant ministries and agencies to guide, monitor, urge, and inspect the implementation of this Decision; develop plans for training, providing information, and organizing exchanges, meetings, seminars, and experience-sharing activities for persons of prestige that are suitable for the characteristics of each ethnic minority area; report annually to the Prime Minister on the results of policy implementation and any issues encountered, proposing solutions; coordinate with the Ministry of Finance to develop annual budget plans to implement policies for persons of prestige as prescribed.

3. Provincial People's Committees shall be fully responsible for directing, guiding, implementing, and managing policies for persons of prestige in their localities; they shall organize annual and five-year reviews and report to the National Ethnic Minorities Commission and the Ministry of Finance on the results of policy implementation as prescribed.”

Article 2. Effective Date

This Decision takes effect from November 22, 2013

This Circular takes effect from December 25, 2025/.

1. The Minister, Head of the National Ethnic Minorities Commission shall take the lead and coordinate with the Minister of Finance to be responsible for guiding the implementation of this Decision.

2. Ministers, Heads of ministerial-level agencies, Heads of government-affiliated agencies, Chairpersons of provincial People's Committees directly under the central government are responsible for implementing this Decision./.