After an 80-year-old woman in Do Xa residential group was named in the list, received congratulatory money but was not awarded a Certificate of Longevity, the Chairman of Phu Ly Ward People's Committee (Ninh Binh province) said that this is "the procedure of the Elderly Association". However, according to regulations, the ward-level government is the agency responsible for organizing and ensuring the full implementation of policies in the area, the management responsibility cannot be separated.
Talking to reporters, Mr. Hoang Cao Liem, Chairman of Phu Ly Ward People's Committee, Ninh Binh province, said that the issuance of longevity certificates is under the procedure of the Elderly Association.
The longevity certificate is of the Association, not of the ward. The process is the process of the Association," Mr. Liem said.
However, according to Mr. Liem, the Ward People's Committee is the state management agency in the area and has requested inspection, review, and rectification if any errors occur. At the same time, he affirmed that people who meet the age requirements must be entitled to benefits according to regulations.
Previously, according to records at the longevity celebration held in Do Xa residential group, Mrs. Nguyen Thi Lan, who turned 80 years old this year, was still named and received the longevity money according to the level applied to people of sufficient age. The fact that an individual was named in the list and was given money shows that she has been confirmed to be eligible for longevity celebration policies according to regulations.
It is known that this list was not made randomly at the ceremony but was compiled from local population data, through the residential group system and related units before being organized. This is a process in coordination between grassroots organizations and local authorities.
However, at the ceremony itself, the old woman only received a gift (500,000 VND), the level applied to people over 80 years old according to local regulations. Unlike previous elderly people, Ms. Lan was not awarded a Certificate of Longevity.
The Elderly Association is a social organization, not having the function of state administrative management. Organizing longevity celebrations for people residing in the area is part of the social policy system organized and implemented by local authorities. Therefore, the management responsibility of ward-level authorities needs to be clarified.
Mr. Liem also said: If errors are detected, relevant organizations or individuals must rectify and take responsibility.
The Phu Ly Ward People's Committee's request for inspection after the incident occurred is necessary, but the responsibility of the local government is not only limited to handling the consequences.
More importantly, the ward government needs to clarify the causes, determine the specific responsibilities of individuals and related departments, and at the same time ensure that the rights of the elderly are fully implemented, so as not to let similar cases occur.
The case in Do Xa residential group is no longer just an individual's story, but has become a matter of state management responsibility at the grassroots level. The handling of Phu Ly Ward People's Committee will be a measure of policy implementation and protection of the legitimate rights of people in the area.
