Monitoring the work of local authorities with citizens contributed to solving a number of socially significant problems

July 9, Minsk /BELTA/. A large-scale monitoring of the work of local authorities with citizens conducted in Belarus has revealed a number of acute social problems, many of which have been promptly resolved and eliminated. This was reported to a BELTA correspondent by the Administration of the President of Belarus, commenting on the results of the inspection by interdepartmental working groups of the situation on the ground regarding the organization of work with citizens, the consideration of their appeals, and the solution of pressing public problems. The large-scale monitoring was organized in accordance with the instructions of the head of state and was carried out in June in all regions of Belarus. Nine interdepartmental working groups studied the situation on the ground in areas most sensitive to the population: housing and communal services, housing construction, labor and social protection, healthcare, trade, consumer services, and others. As a result, in all inspected regions, "a number of acute socially significant problems that citizens most frequently encounter, as well as instances of red tape, formalism, arrogance, and indifference in their consideration, were identified," the Presidential Administration noted. Members of the interdepartmental groups tried not to leave any of the remarks made by citizens unaddressed, to understand the problematic situation as quickly as possible, and to find a way to resolve it. For example, in the Mogilev region, they helped a group of locksmiths receive the money legally owed to them for their work from the Chaus SPAK "Kolkhoz 'Golovenchitsy'". In 2009, the workers repaired and serviced grain drying complexes in this collective farm, but instead of the promised Br1 million, they were paid only half. Their written appeal to the chairman of the SPAK was hidden from registration and left unconsidered. Following the investigation, the remaining amount was paid to the workers, and the chairman of the SPAK was brought to administrative responsibility. The interdepartmental group quickly and easily found a solution to a problem that a large family from Mogilev had been bringing to the executive authorities for 6 years. The family's land plot, house, and outbuildings are regularly flooded by the Strunya River. However, the city executive committee did not plan to organize surface water drainage or even start design work on this matter. The interdepartmental working group had to make appropriate proposals to the city executive committee. During personal interviews, members of the interdepartmental groups identified problems in the work of land management services, some of which were caused by the irresponsible attitude of officials. For example, an 80-year-old resident of Mogilev has been knocking on officials' doors for 17 years because the city executive committee incorrectly established the boundaries of her land plot at the time, and the access road to her house turned out to be so narrow that it was impossible to deliver firewood. The head of the city's land management service, instead of rectifying the violation, was rude and inactive. Another "malady" of local officials is to report completion without actually doing the work. This happened in Bobruisk: the city executive committee claimed that the sidewalk and road were improved from Gogol Street to Bogushevich Street. However, the working group, upon visiting the site following a statement from a resident, found that the path actually only reached the 2nd Olkhovaya Lane. As a result, officials of the Bobruisk City Executive Committee were subjected to disciplinary action. Cases of unauthorized occupation of land plots, their non-target and inefficient use are common. During one selective inspection conducted in the village of Domashkovichi, Dokshitsky district, 13 such cases were identified. Some land plots provided to peasant (farmer) farms are in a neglected, abandoned state. The main reason for such violations is the lack of control by executive authorities and land management and geodesy services over the use and protection of land. Moreover, in some cases, they are the result of abuses of official position by local executive committee officials. The Administration emphasized that "appropriate response measures" have been taken for all identified violations. As the monitoring showed, a "high percentage of complaints about the organization of healthcare institutions' activities is observed throughout the country: closure of district hospitals, FAPs, shortage of qualified medical personnel," and the condition of rural shops causes great concern among the population. It was found that the heads of individual enterprises, executive authorities, and administrations do not take adequate measures to ensure fire safety in healthcare, education, and cultural institutions, enterprises, and housing stock. -0-