In the second half of 2022, it is planned to hold more than 170 meetings of government agencies with the population
At a Government meeting chaired by Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Alikhan Smailov, the results of meetings of heads of central and local government agencies with the population for the first half of 2022 were considered. The reports were made by the Ministers of Information and Social Development Askar Umarov, National Economy — Alibek Kuantyrov, akims of Aktobe and Zhambyl regions.
The Head of State has been instructed to hold regular meetings with the population on an annual basis to strengthen the dialogue of state bodies with citizens. This measure is the main step towards building a New Kazakhstan.
According to the Minister of Information and Social Development A. Umarov, a new procedure for conducting field meetings of heads of central and local executive bodies with the population in the regions in the format of live communication has been launched since this year.
Thus, the Presidential Decree “On holding meetings of heads of central executive bodies with the population” was adopted. Based on the proposals of government agencies, a schedule of meetings of heads of central executive bodies with the population for 2022 has been formed. The schedule has been agreed with all central executive bodies and approved by the relevant Government decree.
The Ministry has also developed, approved by order and brought to the attention of state agencies Methodological recommendations for holding meetings with the population.
“A chat group has been created in WhatsApp messenger to ensure operational interaction between the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan and central executive bodies. At the same time, taking into account the requirements of the Decree, a unified form of presentation of information by state bodies on meetings with the population has been developed”, – A. Umarov said.
The analysis of meetings of heads of central executive bodies with the population at the end of the half-year showed the following.
According to the minister, before organizing field meetings in the regions, the central executive bodies analyze the appeals received from citizens of this region. Publications and posts with citizens' concerns in popular social networks and mass media are taken into account.
“The average number of participants in meetings held in the new format of live communication was up to 500 people, the duration of meetings is up to 3 hours, 75% of the meeting time is devoted to questions and answers. A total of 227 meetings are planned for 2022, 55 of them in the first half, 172 in the second half. The total number of meetings held from the beginning of the year to June amounted to 45”, – A. Umarov informed.
The largest number of ministerial visits took place in Aktobe, Karaganda and Pavlodar regions. At the same time, Almaty, Kostanay, Mangystau and North Kazakhstan regions remained less covered by meetings.
At the same time, it is worth noting the existence of facts of non-compliance with the dates of meetings. This leads to a shift in the Schedule with the risk of visiting one region by several ministries at once and may affect the quality of the organization of meetings by local executive bodies.
Another important issue is the extensive information coverage of the meetings. As the Minister of Information noted, monitoring of the information field showed that the meetings were widely covered in the republican and regional print media, on republican and regional TV channels, on social networks.
“Government agencies posted announcements about upcoming meetings on official Internet resources and social media accounts. MISD has all the necessary resources and is ready to cover every meeting. But this work should be of a collective nature and directly depends on your own materials for lighting” – A. Umarov said.
The third important issue is compliance with the requirements of the Decree, such as preliminary collection of questions from the public, conducting an online broadcast, briefing for the media, personal reception of citizens, meetings with NGOs, preparation of an Action Plan on problematic issues.
The analysis showed that according to the meetings held, in general, the requirements of the Decree are observed by state bodies.
However, as A. Umarov stressed, government agencies do not always conduct online broadcasts of meetings on social networks and briefings for journalists. Based on the results of individual meetings, Action Plans with a list of problematic issues have not been formed or are not publicly available.
Within the framework of field meetings in the regions, the ministers fixed a number of topical issues of citizens. The most exciting issues for the population are:
- quality of mobile communication and Internet in cities and rural settlements;
- electrification and gasification of regions;
- provision of high-quality drinking water;
- compulsory social health insurance;
- salary increase for employees of industrial enterprises;
- issues of persons with disabilities ;
- rotation of heads of educational organizations, adoption of children, distance learning format, updating of curricula;
- per capita financing of sports sections and creative circles.
In addition, a comparative analysis of the issues raised by the population at meetings with ministers and akims showed similarities on 2 issues that need to be addressed at the interdepartmental level, in particular, these are issues of compulsory social health insurance and per capita financing of sports sections and creative circles.
“It should be noted that following the results of the meetings of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, citizens receive questions, the solution of which is also within the competence of other state bodies. Nevertheless, we, for our part, try to provide all possible assistance in solving them. When traveling to the region, we represent not only our state agency, but the entire Government. It is necessary to fix the problematic issues of citizens, regardless of competence. Field meetings should be result–oriented — providing concrete assistance to specific people” – A. Umarov said.
Only under conditions of active involvement of the population in government decision-making by building effective feedback with government agencies is it possible to implement the reforms of the Head of State to build a New Kazakhstan.
Summarizing the above, according to the Minister, it is necessary:
Firstly, when holding meetings, government agencies should comply with all the requirements of the Decree, adhere to the deadlines stipulated in the Schedule and follow the Methodological Recommendations.
Secondly, not to be limited to trips to regional centers, but to give preference to districts, villages and towns more. It is important to make it clear to people that ministries are interested in fixing and solving problematic issues both at the regional, district and rural levels.
Thirdly, to strengthen the information coverage of meetings. It is proposed to focus on replicating the life stories of citizens who have received real help from the state body in solving problematic issues. MISD, in turn, will assist in their coverage in the republican media.
Fourth, to send information to the MISD on the results of the meetings held for analysis and monitoring, as well as further periodic informing of the Government and the Presidential Administration on the progress of the Decree.
In turn, the Minister of National Economy of the Republic of Kazakhstan A. Kuantyrov noted that the Head of State fixed the format of new meetings of akims of all levels with the population on March 3 this year. So, in the first half of the year, akims of all levels held about 8.5 thousand meetings with 594 thousand people, at which issues of housing and communal services, landscaping and ecology, reconstruction were raised roads, construction of social infrastructure facilities, etc.
More than 29.2 thousand proposals and questions were received. As a result of meetings with local executive bodies, 12.6 thousand issues were resolved (43%), 515 billion tenge is needed to resolve the remaining issues. As part of the budget adjustment, the regions considered 149.2 billion tenge, or 29% of the demand.
Based on the proposals of local executive bodies, central state bodies, national holdings and problems requiring solutions at the company level, a list of issues has been formed. This list consists of 140 questions. The predominant part of the issues (86 questions or 61%) are related to the need to allocate funds from the republican budget, including:
- enterprises do not have the necessary documentation on 18 issues (feasibility study, POI);
- 22 major projects and systemic issues requiring financing in several stages, 103 billion tenge is provided from the republican budget this year.
For example, the total cost of the Donskoye-Badamsha-Aktobe-Orsk highway reconstruction project (sections 45-60 km and 60-75 km) is 5.9 billion tenge, 1.1 billion tenge has been allocated from the local budget this year. Or 570 million tenge was allocated from the republican budget for the implementation of 2 new gas supply projects for the population of the Zaisan district in 2022, and as part of the formation of the republican budget for 2023-2025, a budget application for the amount of 730.5 million tenge was submitted for the implementation of these 2 projects;
- for 16 projects – within the framework of the formation of the republican budget for 2023-2025 - the possibility of allocating 17.7 billion tenge is being considered;
- financing of 14 issues is still under consideration by state bodies. These issues will be resolved in accordance with the procedure established by law, taking into account the conclusion of the RBC on the basis of the availability of documentation, the competence of ministries.
In general, the new format of communication of akims is positively perceived by citizens and meets the needs of the population.
The head of the Aktobe region, Akim Ondasyn Urazalin, also reported on the topic.
In accordance with the Decree of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, since this year, meetings of akims of all levels with the population have been held in a new format.
“In general, 2128 meetings are planned for the region this year. According to the recommendation, meetings with the population are held without a stage, stands and on the principle of panel discussions. This format allowed akims to communicate openly and easily with the population. The population as a whole perceives such changes positively” – the head of the Aktobe region said during the report.
According to O. Urazalin, the schedule of meetings until the end of the year, as well as information about their venues, are published in advance in the mass media.
According to the results of the first half of the year, 717 meetings were held in the region, more than 21 thousand people took part in total, 1259 questions were raised.
At each meeting, together with the relevant akims, representatives of the competent state bodies will be present, where issues will be considered, most of the issues will be resolved during the meeting.
In addition, after the meetings, receptions on personal issues of residents are mandatory. To date, 1,448 questions of citizens have been considered at 166 personal receptions, the governor of the region stressed during the report.
“The results of these meetings revealed the following important issues. Firstly, there is a slight increase in the activity of civil society. This, in turn, contributed to the resolution of issues of local importance, contributed to the reduction of social tension. Secondly, conditions have been created to identify important problematic issues in the territories of the region and even in every residential area. Thirdly, it made it possible to select opinion leaders and active citizens among the population. In the future, it will be possible to actively involve them in the Public Council, in local self—government bodies as members, as deputies”, – O. Urazalin said.
As the akim of Aktobe region noted, thanks to the accumulated experience, the akimat has several proposals on effective communication with the population.
Firstly, according to the akim of the region, it is necessary to consider issues common to society at meetings, and personal issues will be considered later at the reception. But due to the large number of issues, in addition to meetings, the akimat proposes to hold a "single day of reception of citizens" on an ongoing basis. Since the reception takes place without an appointment and all residents can take part, many issues are resolved promptly. As a result, there is a decrease in appeals to the akimat, the head of the region emphasized.
Secondly, according to the mayor, following the results of these meetings, we propose to create Councils of territorial self-government from among the active, caring population and groups.
To date, the city of Aktobe is divided into 38 territories, Councils with the participation of this active population have been created to promptly solve problematic issues. As a result, at the meetings that are taking place today, the nature of the issues raised by residents is changing, mainly it concerns the city as a whole, proposals for the improvement of the city. We plan to finance the Councils of this territorial self-government from the local budget in accordance with the law.
“As a result of the above—mentioned proposals, the number of personal questions will decrease at meetings with the population, which will allow the society as a whole to consider general issues and establish an effective dialogue with the population”, – Akim of Aktobe region Ondasyn Urazalin summed up.
Akim of Zhambyl region Nurzhan Nurzhigitov made a report at a Government meeting chaired by Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Alikhan Smailov.
“In accordance with the Decree of the Head of State No. 826 dated March 3, 2022, more than 1,000 meetings of akims of all levels are planned in the region by the end of the year, meeting schedules have been agreed at the maslikhat session. To date, 579 meetings have been held, which were attended by more than 25 thousand people”, – the head of the region began his report.
To date, 582 of them have received a positive decision, explanations have been given during 497 meetings and about 800 have been taken under control. The problems that often concern residents of the region are access to housing, drinking water and natural gas.
According to the head of the region, 68 residential buildings are being built in the region. More than 3,000 land plots will be distributed for individual housing construction. By 2025, it is planned to put into operation about 400 thousand square meters of apartment buildings.
The Asar project in the region positively contributes to the solution of the housing issue.
“Within the framework of the project, 233 needy families have been provided with housing since 2020, 18 of the 121 houses planned for construction were commissioned in 2022. To date, more than 200 rural settlements have been provided with centralized drinking water” – Nurzhigitov said.
In 2022, 19.8 billion tenge of construction work will be carried out in 40 settlements. According to the results of the year, 30.4 thousand of the population in 30 settlements will have access to high-quality drinking water. In the remaining 10 settlements, construction work is moving to 2023.
As a result, the level of drinking water supply has been brought to 297 settlements and over 600 thousand people have been provided with high-quality drinking water.
So, today 259 settlements are provided with natural gas.
“In 2022, construction works in 43 settlements will be carried out in the amount of 11.9 billion tenge. Of these, by the end of the year, 8.8 thousand people in 17 settlements will be connected to gas. In the remaining 26 settlements, construction work is moving to 2023. As a result, the level of gas supply will be brought to 274 settlements” – the head of the region N. Nurzhigitov said.
According to the regional development plan, by 2025, the settlements of the region will be provided with 100% drinking water and natural gas.
Also in the focus of attention of residents is the road problem. The share of roads in the region in good and satisfactory condition is 95%, and the share of streets of settlements is at the level of 79.2%.
“In 2022, 16.2 billion tenge will be allocated for the development of the road industry. It is planned to average repair over 600 km of roads, reconstruction of 9.4 km of roads. As a result, the share of roads in good and satisfactory condition in the region will be 97%. In order to improve these indicators, it is planned to attract more than 6 billion tenge in 2025 for the amount of 18 road construction and reconstruction works” – Governor of the region Nurzhan Nurzhigitov said.
25.9 billion tenge was allocated to improve the share of streets of settlements to 94.1%, 726 projects with asphalt paving will be implemented. This work is proceeding systematically in the field of healthcare, education, culture, sports and land.
In addition, akims held 579 personal receptions, more than 1,200 citizens were covered by various issues.
The Mayor also reported that meetings and personal receptions are held with the participation of heads of law enforcement agencies, deputies of the Maslikhat, representatives of the Public Council and intellectuals.
In addition, 7 working days before the scheduled meeting, events are organized jointly with the relevant regional state bodies to identify topical issues on the ground, exchange views with the population, and consider their appeals.
At the same time, in addition to systemic problems, attention is also paid to the issues of individual citizens. This system will allow for a deeper study of the issues of the population that preceded the meeting, and conduct productive work during the meeting.
“Following the results of each meeting, a special action plan was approved, which is posted on the websites of the akimat. Also, the progress of execution is published on official websites. Work in this direction will be continued systematically” – Akim of Zhambyl region Nurzhan Nurzhigitov concluded his report.