The National Assembly (NA) Committee for Social Affairs convened its seventh meeting to prepare for the seventh plenary session of the 13th legislature slated for May.

In her opening speech, Chairwoman of the NA Committee for Social Affairs Truong Thi Mai said that during the plenum, NA deputies will hear reports on adjustments to the revised law on marriage and family, supplements to a number of articles of the Law on Health Insurance, a draft report of the Standing Committee on the results of supervising the implementation of policies and laws on poverty reduction for the 2005-2012 period.

They will also consider the regulations of the Constitution on social affairs and proposals on the adjustments to law and ordinance making program for the 13th NA term.

The committee will give opinion on a draft report regarding activities between the two sessions and appraisal of draft laws at the 7th session.

NA deputies will dilate on the Social Insurance Law (revised), a government report on the implementation of the national target on gender equality in 2013, a government report on the management and use of social insurance fund in 2013.

At the 7th plenary session, they will explain the implementation of policies and laws on poverty reduction for the ethnic minority people.

Prompt action on petitions called for

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has demanded that complaints and denunciations be handled in line with the law, ensuring the legitimate rights and interests of citizens.

During a teleconference with ministries, departments and local authorities in Ha Noi yesterday, April 22, Phuc asked the provincial and municipal People's Committees to organise dialogues with citizens to promptly deal with prolonged legal cases.

Last year, the number of complainants and denunciators fell two per cent, but more people went to State and Party Central Committee's citizen reception offices to air their grievances than during the preceding year. In the first quarter of this year, the number of cases lodged at these offices was down more than 29 per cent year-on-year. The number of people arriving to complain, however, was higher.

Participants lamented that some regulations were not related to reality. Many local authorities had failed to host citizen receptions in an appropriate manner.

President hails Truong Son veterans

President Truong Tan Sang said war veterans and former young volunteers would continue to inspire young generations.

President Truong Tan Sang meets with war veterans and former youth volunteers on the 55th anniversary of the Traditional Day of Truong Son Soldiers.

Sang was speaking at a function to welcome the Truong Son-Ho Chi Minh Trail Tradition Association in Ha Noi yesterday (April 22) to mark the 55th anniversary of Traditional Day of Truong Son Soldiers on May 19.

He said the Party and State were always grateful to war heroes for risking their lives for national independence and reunification.

Established in 2011, the association started out as Battalion 559 on May 19, 1959. It won a legendary victory along the Truong Son route,known as the Ho Chi Minh Trail, during the anti-US war.

The association has developed into a network of chapters across 47 cities and provinces and has nearly 300,000 members.

The recent charity event Nghia tinh Truong Son (Sentimental attachment to Truong Son) raised nearly VND50 billion (US$238,000).

This led to 700 new bank accounts being set up for the families of war heroes, Agent Orange victims and the poor.

Hanoi commemorates first leader of Soviet Union

A delegation from the Party Committee, the People’s Council, and the People’s Committee of Hanoi on April 22 laid wreaths at the statue of Vladimir Ilych Lenin – the first leader of the Soviet Union, in Lenin Park, on the occasion of his 144th birthday (April 22, 1870).

The officials were led by Ngo Thi Doan Thanh, Deputy Secretary of the municipal Party Committee and Chairwoman of the People’s Council.

Lenin is one of the eminent political figures and revolutionary thinkers of the 20th century, who masterminded the Bolshevik take-over of power in Russia in 1917 and became the architect and first leader of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR).

The annual activity constitutes Hanoians’ deep gratitude to the great teacher of workers and labourers worldwide.

National Assembly deputies meet voters nationwide

National Assembly deputies held meetings with voters across the country on April 22, ahead of the legislative body’s seventh session scheduled for May.

Nguyen Thien Nhan, Politburo member and President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee, joined the delegation of NA deputies of the northern province of Bac Giang to meet voters from Bac Giang’s Hiep Hoa district. They took note of the residents’ requests on financial support for infrastructure building in rural areas and development investment in 16 communes in the former revolutionary stronghold.

In the northern province of Ninh Binh, General Tran Dai Quang, Politburo member and Minister of Public Security joined NA deputies to hear voters’ opinions on the assistance they need to rise out of poverty in a sustainable way.

They promised to bring the suggestions to the NA meeting for consideration.

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Van Ninh and the NA deputy delegation of the northern province of Nam Dinh visited Truc Khang commune (Truc Ninh district), Nam Hung commune (Nam Truc district) and Nghia Tan commune (Nghia Hung district) on April 21 and 22 to inform locals about the upcoming NA session.

The Deputy PM affirmed to voters that the Government will focus its efforts on restructuring agricultural production to help farmers earn higher and more stable incomes.

The seventh session of the National Assembly will take place from May 20 to June 24.

VNN/VOV/VNS/VNA