After the work is deployed, the intermediate links forward, copy and copy the documents of the superiors layer by layer, which should be a task shared by all levels, but it has become "grassroots cadres, superiors look at it, and add a red head to pass it down"; In some localities, the issuance and issuance of documents disregard local realities, resulting in difficulties in implementation at the grassroots level, and even having to be "implemented on paper...... Banyuetan reporters found that in recent years, when promoting work, some localities have been accustomed to mechanically "copying and forwarding" documents, or blindly applying documents, and replacing work with circulating materials, turning the implementation of work into a task of "beating the drum and passing flowers", which has increased the burden on the grassroots.
Mechanical forwarding, Dong Shi effect, the content repetition rate is more than eighty percent
"The province arranged the work, the city forwarded it to the county, and the county transferred it to the town. The document sent did not change much, but it was forwarded. The mayors of townships and towns in central China "complained" to reporters, and many similar documents were received, "the intermediate links have become 'transit stations', and all levels are urging grassroots cadres."
Banyuetan reporters have investigated and found that in recent years, in the circulation of documents, there are still many problems such as mechanical processing, "copying and copying", and disregard for reality, and the three situations are obvious:
- Mechanical forwarding is not refined. In some places, the documents are circulated to the grassroots level layer by layer, without refinement, and do not provide methods and ideas. In 2023, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the State Supervision Commission notified the Baicheng City Government Office in Jilin Province of the problem of repeatedly forwarding documents and copying the content of higher-level documents. According to the circular, the Baicheng City Government Office forwarded the documents issued by the Provincial Department of Civil Affairs at the city and county levels to the counties (cities and districts) again. In 2021, the work plan for the construction of the urban farmland shelterbelt system and the implementation plan for the rectification of the feedback problems of routine land inspectors were issued by the provincial government, and the content of the documents of the provincial government office overlapped by more than 80%.
-- Ignoring the reality of "one size fits all". In some places, all kinds of mapping and statistical work are issued as tasks regardless of specific realities. Fu Wei, an associate researcher at the Institute of Sociology of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, was deeply impressed by a case in which a place in the eastern part of the country did not thoroughly understand the policy requirements of the higher authorities in carrying out the special struggle to eliminate organized crime and vice, and sent a "one-size-fits-all" underground distribution to all schools in the district's education system for investigation. After receiving the notice, a local kindergarten sent a sample form to each class for the teacher to fill in. A teacher will fill in the form with "through the investigation of the 35 children in this class, no children have been found to be involved in crime and evil" and take a photo, and publish it on his personal WeChat circle of friends. "Investigating and eliminating evil in kindergartens" has become a hot topic of public opinion, causing adverse social impacts.
-- It is difficult to implement the "East Shi Imitation". In some places, not only are they mechanically copied and copied in the documents, but they even directly imitate other places without considering the actual situation of the place. The Gansu Provincial Department of Housing and Urban-Rural Development has been exposed that in the deployment and implementation of the rural dilapidated housing renovation work, without in-depth research and without fully soliciting the opinions of the grassroots, it copied the practices of other places and issued the "Implementation Rules for the Management of Rural Dilapidated Housing Renovation Archives". Because this detailed rule is divorced from local reality, it is difficult for grassroots workers to understand and implement, which once led to a lot of money, slow progress, and poor results in the renovation of dilapidated houses, and the cadres and the masses reacted strongly.
"Big things are posted, small things are posted, coping with the post, and things are posted"
"Simply 'copying and copying' higher-level documents, or mechanically applying policies from other places, without thinking or judging, is a typical manifestation of formalism and bureaucracy." Fu Wei said.
In recent years, Fu Wei has continued to pay attention to the issue of formalism; Huang Zhenhua, a professor at the China Rural Research Institute of Central China Normal University, also continued to carry out relevant research at the grassroots level. Experts believe that similar problems of "formalism in the circulation of documents" have a direct negative impact.
"First of all, it will directly affect the actual effectiveness of policy implementation." Huang Zhenhua believes that after the issuance of some documents that do not conform to local realities, there is no way to implement the policy intentions at the grassroots level due to the lack of operability. "Maybe the starting point of the policy is good, but it is not combined with reality, and there are difficulties in grassroots transformation, and sometimes the effect will be counterproductive."
Fu Wei believes that a similar situation will also directly increase the work burden of the grassroots level. "Grassroots units are forced to spend a lot of time and energy on receiving, forwarding and processing documents, rather than actually doing the work. Documents that ignore local differences and actual needs can also make policy implementation rigid and detached, which not only increases the cost of implementation, but also may lead to confusion and inefficiency in the implementation process. Fu Wei said, "In the long run, the morale and enthusiasm of grassroots staff will be seriously affected, which in turn will affect the vitality and innovation ability of grassroots organizations." ”
The interviewed experts believe that the problem of "formalism in the circulation of documents" has led to the persistence of the phenomenon of "issuing documents for major matters, issuing documents for small matters, coping with documents, and issuing documents" in some places. In some places, due to the low enforceability of documents, there is also a situation where "paper implementation" has to be made.
"Over time, there will be a gap between what the public expects from the policy and how it is actually implemented. If this situation is allowed to exist, it will also affect the authority and credibility of government departments. Fu Wei said.
Cracking Down on "Formalism in Document Circulation"
"Formalism in document circulation" has a direct impact on the administrative efficiency and governance effectiveness of the government.
Huang Zhenhua believes that judging from the introduction of the document, it is necessary to absorb more opinions from the grassroots in advance; In the process of promotion, it is necessary to make timely optimization and adjustment by regularly doing some assessments or soliciting opinions from the grassroots.
"In the circulation of documents, we must seek truth from facts and refine the feasibility of implementation. For example, it is necessary to clarify the focus of the work and the way to promote it according to local conditions in combination with the city and county conditions to ensure the effectiveness of implementation. Huang Zhenhua said.
Fu Wei believes that the key to rectifying "formalism in the circulation of documents" lies in guiding cadres at all levels to establish a correct outlook on political achievements and work, overcome formalism, ensure that the content of documents is targeted and operable, and avoid the issuance of empty documents. It is necessary to emphasize the substance and practical effect of the document, so that it can truly become a tool for promoting work and solving problems.
"It is necessary to reduce the burden on the grassroots, and effectively reduce the work burden on the grassroots by reducing the number of documents issued and simplifying unnecessary procedures, so that they can be liberated from cumbersome document processing and have more time and energy to focus on practical work and serving the people." Fu Wei said.
At present, modern information technologies such as big data and cloud computing are in the ascendant. The interviewed experts suggested that before the issuance of the document, data analysis should be used to improve the scientificity and accuracy of decision-making; In circulation, information technology can also be used to optimize the document circulation process, improve the feedback mechanism for unreasonable or obviously detached from the actual documents, and further improve the quality and efficiency of government work.
Original title: "The intermediate links become transit, all of them are urging the grassroots to do it, and be wary of formalism in the circulation of documents"