At the Government session chaired by Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Alikhan Smailov, the results of public meetings of the heads of central and local government agencies for the first half of 2022 were considered. Minister of Information and Social Development Askar Umarov, Minister of National Economy Alibek Kuantyrov, akims of Aktobe and Zhambyl regions presented their reports.

The Head of State instructed to hold regular public meetings annually to strengthen the dialogue between state bodies and citizens. This measure is the main step towards the construction of the New Kazakhstan.

According to the Minister of Information and Social Development Askar Umarov, a new procedure has been launched this year for holding live field meetings of the heads of central and local executive bodies with the population in the regions.

Thus, the Decree of the President "On holding meetings of the heads of central executive bodies with the population" was adopted. Based on the proposals of state bodies, a schedule of meetings of the heads of central executive bodies with the population for 2022 has been formed. The schedule is coordinated with all central executive bodies and approved by the relevant government decree.

Also, the Ministry developed and approved Methodological Recommendations for Holding Public Meetings, which was and brought to the attention of state bodies.

“In order to ensure prompt interaction between the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the central executive bodies, a chat group has been created in the WhatsApp messenger. At the same time, taking into account the requirements of the Decree, a unified form for presenting information by state bodies on meetings with the population has been developed,” said Umarov.

An analysis of the meetings of the heads of central executive bodies with the population based on the results of the first half of the year showed the following.

According to the minister, before organizing field meetings in the regions, the central executive bodies analyze the appeals received from the citizens of this region. Publications and posts with concerns of citizens 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 the meetings was up to 3 hours, 75% of the time of the meetings was devoted to questions and answers. A total of 227 meetings are scheduled for 2022, of which 55 will be held in the first half of the year, and 172 in the second half of the year. The total number of meetings held from the beginning of the year to June was 45,” 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 the meetings.

At the same time, it is worth noting the presence of facts of non-compliance with the timing of the 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 organization of meetings by local executive bodies.

Another important issue is the wide information coverage of the meetings. As the Minister of Information noted, the monitoring of the information field showed that the meetings were widely covered in the national and regional print media, on national and regional TV channels, and in social networks.

“State authorities posted announcements about upcoming meetings on official Internet resources and social media accounts. IIOR 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,” Umarov said.

The third important issue is compliance with the requirements of the Decree, such as preliminary collection of questions from the population, online broadcasting, a briefing for the media, personal reception of citizens, meetings with NGOs, and 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 Umarov emphasized, online broadcasts of meetings on social networks and briefings for journalists are not always conducted by state bodies. Based on the results of individual meetings, Action Plans with a list of problematic issues were not formed or made publicly available.

As part of field meetings in the regions, the ministers recorded a number of topical issues of citizens. The issues of greatest concern to the public are:

• the quality of mobile communications and the Internet in cities and rural areas;
• electricity and gas supply to the regions;
• provision of high-quality drinking water;
• compulsory social health insurance;
• increase in wages for employees of industrial enterprises;
• issues of persons with disabilities;
• rotation of heads of educational organizations, adoption of children, distance learning, updating curricula;
• per capita financing of sports and creative extracurriculars.

In addition, a comparative analysis of issues raised by the population at meetings with ministers and akims showed similarities in 2 issues that need to be addressed at the interdepartmental level, in particular, these are the issues of compulsory social health insurance and per capita financing of sports and creative extracurriculars.

“It should be noted that following the results of the meetings of the Ministry, citizens ask 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 their solution. Traveling to the region, we represent not only our state body, but the entire Government. It is necessary to fix the issues of citizens, regardless of competence. Field meetings should be focused on the result — the provision of specific assistance to specific people,” Umarov said.

Only under conditions of active involvement of the population in government decision-making through building effective feedback with government agencies, it is possible to implement the reforms of the Head of State to build the New Kazakhstan.

Summarizing the above, according to the minister, it is necessary:

First, when holding meetings with government agencies, comply with all the requirements of the Decree, adhere to the deadlines stipulated by the Schedule and follow the Methodological Recommendations.

Second, not to be limited to trips to regional centers, but to give preference to districts, villages and towns. It is important to let people know that the ministries are interested in fixing and solving the issues both at the regional, and at the district and village levels.

Third, to strengthen the information coverage of the meetings. It is proposed to focus on replicating the life stories of citizens who have received real assistance from state bodies in solving issues. The Ministry, in turn, will assist in their coverage in the republican media.

Fourth, to send information to the Ministry about the results of the meetings held for analysis and monitoring, as well as further regular informing the Government and the Presidential Administration about the implementation of the Decree.

In turn, the Minister of National Economy of Kazakhstan, Alibek Kuantyrov noted that the Head of State fixed the format of new meetings of akims of all levels with the population on March 3, 2022. So, in the first half of the year, akims of all levels held about 8.5 thousand meetings with the participation of 594 thousand people, at which issues of housing and communal services, improvement and ecology, reconstruction of roads, construction of social infrastructure facilities, etc. were raised.

More than 29.2 thousand proposals and questions were received. As a result of meetings with local executive bodies, 12.6 thousand issues (43%) were resolved, 515 billion tenge are needed to resolve the remaining issues. The regions, as part of budget adjustments, considered 149.2 billion tenge, or 29% of the need.

Based on the proposals of local executive bodies, central government bodies, national holdings and problems that need to be addressed at the company level, a list of issues has been formed. This list consists of 140 questions. The majority of questions (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, design and estimate documentation);

- 22 major projects and systemic issues requiring funding in several stages from the republican budget this year. 103 billion tenge is provided.

For example, the total cost of the project for the reconstruction of the Donskoye-Badamsha-Aktobe-Orsk highway (sections 45-60 km and 60-75 km) is 5.9 billion tenge, this year 1.1 billion tenge has been allocated from the local budget. Or, 570 million tenge was allocated from the republican budget for the implementation of 2 new projects for gas supply to the population of the Zaisan district in 2022, and as part of the formation of the republican budget for 2023-2025, a budget application was submitted for the implementation of these 2 projects in the amount of 730.5 million tenge;

- for 16 projects — as part 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 necessary agreements on the basis of the availability of documentation, the competence of the 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, 2,128 public meetings are planned for the region this year. According to the recommendation, public meetings are held without a stage, stands and on the basis 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 Ondasyn Urazalin, the schedule of meetings until the end of the year, as well as information about the places where they are held, are published in advance in the media.

According to the results of the first half of the year, 717 meetings were held in the region, in total more than 21 thousand people took part, 1,259 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 are held on a mandatory basis on personal issues of residents. To date, 1,448 questions of citizens have been considered at 166 personal receptions, the regional akim emphasized during the report.

“The results of these meetings made it possible to identify the following important issues. First, there is some 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 for identifying important problematic issues in the territories of the region and even in each residential area. Thirdly, it made it possible to select opinion leaders and active citizens among the population. In the future, there will be an opportunity to actively involve them in the Public Council, in local governments as members, in deputies,” Urazalin said.

As the akim of Aktobe region noted, thanks to the accumulated experience, the akimat has several proposals on issues of effective communication with the population.

Firstly, as the regional akim informed, at the meetings it is necessary to consider issues common to society, 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 akim, based on 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, for the prompt solution of problematic issues, Councils have been created with the participation of this active population. As a result, at the meetings that are taking place today, the nature of the issues raised by residents is changing, mainly this 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 proposals, the number of personal questions will decrease at meetings with the population, which will allow society as a whole to consider common issues and establish an effective dialogue with the population,” summed up Akim of the Aktobe region Ondasyn Urazalin.

Akim of Zhambyl region Nurzhan Nurzhigitov presented a report at the Government session chaired by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Alikhan Smailov.

“In accordance with the Decree of the Head of State of March 3, 2022, No. 826, by the end of the year, more than 1,000 meetings of akims of all levels are planned in the region, the schedules of meetings were agreed upon at the session of the maslikhat. To date, 579 meetings have been held, in which more than 25 thousand people have taken part,” the head of the region began his report.

To date, 582 of them have received a positive decision, during 497 meetings clarifications have been given and about 800 have been taken under control. The problems that often concern the inhabitants of the region are access to housing, drinking water and blue fuel.

According to the head of the region, 68 residential buildings are being built in the region. Over 3,000 land plots for individual housing construction will be distributed. Until 2025, it is planned to put into operation about 400 thousand square m of apartment buildings.

The Asar project in the region positively contributes to the solution of the housing issue.

“As part of the project, 233 needy families have been provided with housing since 2020, and 18 out of 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 will be carried out construction work in 40 settlements. Of these, by the end of the year, 30.4 thousand people 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.

For today, 259 settlements have been provided with natural gas.

“In 2022, construction work is being carried out in 43 settlements in the amount of 11.9 billion tenge. Of these, at 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 increased to 274 settlements,” said Nurzhigitov.

According to the development plan of the region, by 2025 the settlements of the region will be provided with 100% drinking water and natural gas.

Also in the center 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 in 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 repair more than 600 km of roads, the reconstruction of 9.4 km of roads. As a result, the share of roads in the region in good and satisfactory condition will be 97%. In order to improve these indicators in 2025, it is planned to attract more than 6 billion tenge in the amount of 18 road construction and reconstruction works,” said regional akim Nurzhan Nurzhigitov.

25.9 billion tenge was allocated to improve the share of streets in settlements to 94.1%, 726 projects with asphalt pavement 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 Akim also reported that meetings and personal receptions are held with the participation of heads of law enforcement agencies, maslikhat deputies, representatives of the Public Council and the intelligentsia.

In addition, 7 working days before the scheduled meeting, in advance, together with the relevant regional state bodies, events are organized 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 paid to the issues of individual citizens. This system will make it possible to more deeply study the issues of the population that preceded the meeting, and to carry out 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," the Akim of the Zhambyl region, Nurzhan Nurzhigitov, concluded his report.