Ghaempanah: Neighborhood-Based Governance Is One of the Key Programs of the National Accord Government
Tabriz – The Executive Deputy to the President, emphasizing the role of the people in running the country's affairs, said neighborhood-based governance is one of the key programs of the National Accord Government for strengthening public participation and resolving neighborhood issues.
According to Mehr reporter, Mohammad Jaafar Qaim Panah, on Tuesday evening, at the coordination meeting for the use of people's capacities in the neighborhood-based governance model in Tabriz, referring to the extensive social capacities in the cities and villages of the country, stated: In every city and village, there are people who can open a knot in people's work; Some with knowledge and expertise, a group with their experience and time, and some with capital, initiative and the ability to bring others together play a role in collective activities.
He added: The main issue is what the managers and government officials have done to bring out these capacities, to what extent they have paved the way for people's participation, what powers they have given them, and how prepared they have been to listen to people's views and learn from people's experiences.
Stating that the people's participation in neighborhood administration goes beyond the implementation of a plan or the activity of a specific organization, the executive vice president clarified: neighborhood-based governance is part of the national unity government's overall view of the country's governance; An approach that wants to give every Iranian a chance to participate in building the country's future and see the result of this participation in his life and society.
People's participation should start from the stage of identifying issues
Emphasizing the necessity of changing the approach of the executive bodies in interacting with the people, Qaimpanah said: Real participation is formed when the people are with the officials from the very beginning of the work, that is, when identifying issues and setting priorities; Not that after deciding on the problem and choosing the solution, they are invited to implement the program only.
He continued: We must share the issues and limitations with the people, explain the available facilities and ask them what experience they have and what solution they suggest. We must also be prepared for a right suggestion from people to change even our initial view.
Referring to the difference between administrative planning and the realities of people's lives, the Executive Vice President stated: A service may exist on paper, but a family cannot access it; Or credit is spent to solve a problem, but the original need remains. Hearing people's experiences helps officials to know the issues more accurately, make more appropriate decisions and use the country's resources more effectively.
Ghaem Panah added: People who live with an issue every day, sometimes know details that cannot be seen in administrative reports. Paying attention to this local knowledge can prevent the waste of resources and increase the effectiveness of the government's actions.
Neighborhood-oriented governance; A ground for strengthening national unity
Referring to the necessity of strengthening social solidarity in the current situation of the country, he said: We need cooperation and synergy for Iran's progress. Unity and brotherhood become stronger when people stand together in common experiences and try to solve society's problems despite differences in political, intellectual and religious views.
The Executive Vice President emphasized: Two people may disagree about politics, but they can stand by each other to solve the problem of their neighborhood and accept joint responsibility for the prosperity of Iran. Today, more than ever, we need mutual trust and cooperation despite differences in tastes.
Pointing to the emphasis on "holy cohesion and unity", Ghaempanah added: We must expand the field of cooperation so that every Iranian who wants to do something for his country feels that his presence and participation is valuable. Even people who criticize the performance of the officials may have suggestions that lead the way, and the same criticisms can make us aware of issues that remain out of our sight.
He clarified: People's participation should not be limited to a specific group or movement. Every person who has a heart for Iran and wants to try to improve the conditions of the country, should have the opportunity to be present and make an impact. This view is a national and social necessity and is also linked to religious foundations and values of collective participation.
Identifying local capacities to solve people's problems
Pointing to the advantages of neighborhood-based administration of social affairs, the executive vice president said: In the neighborhood, one can closely observe issues, identify capable people, define responsibilities, and follow up on the results of actions. When the problem is clearly defined, each person can play a role in solving it according to their ability.
Ghaem Panah continued: Doctors, professionals, young people, retirees, local associations, kindergartens, volunteer groups, and Basiji forces, each of them can provide part of the capacity needed to solve neighborhood problems. The art of management is to identify these diverse abilities and create a context for their effectiveness.
Emphasizing the necessity of continuous communication between people's groups and responsible officials, he stated: A group that comes forward to participate and solve a local problem must know which official it is dealing with, what help the executive body can provide, what powers it has and when it will fulfill its obligations.
The executive vice president added: "People give their time, social credit, and energy to solve problems; Therefore, officials should also maintain the dignity of this trust by making clear decisions, taking timely action and responding appropriately. Engagement is sustained when people see the results of their collaboration and are confident that their efforts are leading to real change.
Increasing people's participation makes the government's responsibility heavier
Emphasizing that people's participation should not be interpreted as a reduction of the government's responsibility, Qaimpanah said: "The more people take the initiative to solve problems, the more our responsibility as statesmen to act more regularly, transparently and responsibly becomes heavier."
He clarified: Providing public services and taking care of deprived areas is the responsibility of the government, and people's participation should not be an excuse to ignore these responsibilities. Neighborhoods that have less facilities need more support and we must be careful to provide the opportunity for progress and access to appropriate services for all people.
Referring to the president's concern about the deprivation of the people, the executive vice president stated: Addressing the situation of the deprived and vulnerable groups should be the priority of executive programs. Its goal is that no issue or need is ignored simply because of limited facilities or weak communication between devices.
Referring to the value of individual capacities in solving local problems, Ghaem Panah added: a few hours of a volunteer's time, the experience of a retiree, the initiative of a young person, and a woman's understanding of the problems of her family and neighborhood are all valuable. Successful management should be able to provide the possibility for each of these capacities to be effective and use them in the way of solving common problems.
People's cooperation strengthens social trust
Stating that successful cooperation at the neighborhood level can increase social trust, he said: When people solve a problem together and see the result of their joint efforts, their trust in each other increases and they are more prepared to participate in the next activities.
The executive vice president added: National unity is not formed by emphasizing empathy, but it should be reflected in the real experiences of the people and their cooperation to solve common problems. Neighborhood-based governance can provide such an opportunity and increase the community's capacity to act.
Qaimpanah called on managers and executive bodies to take people's participation seriously in their daily activities and stated: We must continuously ask ourselves which people's suggestions we have implemented, which initiatives we have launched and what obstacles we have removed from the front of a collective action. The clear answer to these questions shows how much people's participation in the administration of affairs has been considered in practice.
Referring to the continuous follow-up of people's participation in the government, he said: "The president constantly devotes time to this issue and the cooperation of various social groups, including the Basiji forces and the medical community, is considered in this direction."
"Every Iranian is a Basiji" in the way of serving the country
Referring to the concept of inclusive participation in serving the people, the Executive Vice President stated: "Every Iranian is a Basiji", emphasizing the spirit of service, sincerity and readiness to help the people and the country; A spirit that should not be limited to people's political orientation, religion, language or clothing.
Ghaempanah added: Every person who takes steps to improve the conditions of the people and prosperity of Iran should know that his voice is heard and he can play a role in this direction. The national unity government seeks to take advantage of the various abilities of the society and provide the basis for the cooperation of all those who are ready to serve the country.
Emphasizing that the participation of the people does not mean that the government abandons its responsibilities, he clarified: the main issue is to provide the opportunity for the government and the people to cooperate together; In such a way that the responsibilities of executive bodies are clear and social capacities are also used in the way of solving problems.
Creating hope is strengthened by people's participation
Pointing to the necessity of strengthening social hope in the current difficult situation, Ghaempanah said: People, especially young people, need hope and confidence about the future, and one of the ways to strengthen this hope is to see the result of their participation in improving life and solving problems.
He added: Creating hope in the current situation is one of the important tools to deal with the pressures and threats of the enemy. As much as we can provide the basis for people's participation despite the difficulties and show them that they can influence the future, the ability and trust of the society to overcome the problems will increase.
The executive vice president emphasized: People work more confidently for the future when they know that their role and efforts are seen and they can contribute to the improvement of society's conditions. Our responsibility is to provide this opportunity for everyone so that every Iranian can proudly say that he has contributed to the improvement of people's lives and the development of the country.
At the end, Qaim Panah expressed hope that with the government, people, people's groups and executive bodies, the problems of the vulnerable groups will be pursued more seriously and cooperation, empathy and national unity will be the basis for strengthening Iran and maintaining the pride of the country.