At the meeting between the Standing Committee of the Binh Dinh Provincial Party Committee and key officials of 58 new communes and wards after the arrangement of commune-level (May 5), Binh Dinh Provincial Party Committee Secretary Ho Quoc Dung warned that a new problem arising is the situation of officials tending to request to transfer their work closer to their homes.
Mr. Dung said that in the next 5 years, the commune level will continue to reorganize in conjunction with streamlining the payroll. However, there is currently a trend of cadres applying for work transfer to central communes, near their homes, causing unbalanced personnel allocation - some places are lacking, some places have excesses nearly double the target.
In fact, the fact that commune and ward officials tend to move to the center, near their homes, and for living purposes is normal, understandable, and legitimate.
And this mentality of being close to home is certainly not only present in cadres in Binh Dinh, but also in cadres in other localities across the country.
However, if the arrangement of cadres is not properly regulated, it will lead to serious consequences of human resource imbalance at the grassroots level.
Current reality is requiring cadres ready to volunteer to go to disadvantaged areas, taking on work in places with shortage of people and high pressure. A new apparatus cannot operate effectively if personnel are "stuck" right from the arrangement stage, just because the mentality of being close to home is a bit of a luxury.
The situation in Binh Dinh shows a clear difference: some communes are allocated up to 120 positions while the orientation is only 60; on the contrary, many communes in remote areas and suburbs are seriously lacking cadres.
The unscientific arrangement not only makes the apparatus bulky but also makes weak localities even weaker, without conditions to rise up.
The question is: if cadres are not willing to go to difficult areas and cannot accept challenges, where will they get the next force to undertake long-term work? How can we train cadres with a close-knowledge mindset if we only revolve around places near our homes and in the center.
The spirit of commitment, overcoming difficulties, and being ready to take responsibility are one of the measures of a cadre's quality. A serving government cannot be operated smoothly by those who choose easy places, light work, and a stable environment to enjoy.
On the contrary, it is those who are willing to take risks and deal with practical obstacles that are the cadres with the opportunity to develop their capacity most quickly and comprehensively.
Of course, to make officials feel secure working away from home, initially, localities must also have appropriate, satisfactory, and even attractive incentive mechanisms and policies related to accommodation, travel, living expenses, etc.
