The Prime Minister of the Government of Vietnam has just issued Official Telegram 1404/CD-TTg concerning the rescue and remediation of landslide consequences in Subdivision 67 and Rao Trang 3 Hydropower, which mandates the implementation of the best policies for the 13 officers and soldiers who have sacrificed.
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Regime and Policies for 13 Officers and Soldiers Sacrificing at Subdivision 67 in Vietnam (Illustrative photo)
On October 12, a task force consisting of 21 officers and soldiers went to rescue and search at Rao Trang 3 Hydropower Station and stopped at Subdivision 67, where they encountered a severe landslide causing the death of 13 officers and soldiers. By 18:26 on October 15, after three days of searching, the forward command post of Military Region 4's search and rescue force found the bodies of the 13 officers and soldiers who had perished.
In light of this tragic event, the Prime Minister of the Government of Vietnam has just issued Official Telegram 1404/CD-TTg to extend the deepest condolences to the families and relatives of the deceased officers, non-commissioned officers, soldiers, and workers at Subdivision 67 and Rao Trang 3 Hydropower Station. The Prime Minister also requested to implement the best policies for the officers, non-commissioned officers, soldiers, and the families and dependents of those who sacrificed their lives and the deceased workers, especially those with difficult circumstances.
The policies that the sacrificed officers and soldiers and their families may receive are as follows:
1. Recognition of the title of martyr and posthumous granting of the Certificate “To Quoc Ghi Cong” (Grateful Nation)
According to Clause 1, Article 11 of the 2012 Ordinance on Incentives for People with Meritorious Services to the Revolution (Amended), martyrs are those who sacrificed their lives for the revolutionary cause of national liberation, defense of the Fatherland, and the fulfillment of international duties, or for the interest of the State and the People, and are posthumously granted the Certificate “To Quoc Ghi Cong” in the following cases:
- Combat or direct service in combat;
- Direct political struggle, organized struggle with the enemy's troops;
- Revolutionary activities, resistance activities, captured, tortured but resiliently resisted, or executed plans to escape prison and sacrificed their lives;
- Performing international duties;
- Fighting against crime;
- Bravely performing urgent, dangerous tasks serving national defense and security; bravely rescuing people and State and People's property;
- Due to illness or accidents while on duty in defense and security in areas with particularly difficult socio-economic conditions;
- While directly performing the task of searching and collecting martyrs' remains assigned by a competent authority;
- Directly performing training or combat drills for defense and security which are dangerous;
- Wounded soldiers or people entitled to policies as wounded soldiers, as stipulated in Clauses 1 and 2, Article 19 of the 2012 Ordinance, dying because of recurring injuries;
- Missing persons in cases 1 to 7.
Considering the case of 13 soldiers sacrificed at Subdivision 67 while performing rescue and search operations at Rao Trang 3 Hydropower Station under adverse weather conditions and landslide terrain caused by floods, the landslide incident leading to their death falls under the scenario of accidents while on duty in defense and security in areas with particularly difficult socio-economic conditions. Therefore, the 13 officers and soldiers sacrificed in the landslide at Subdivision 67 could be considered for recognition as martyrs and granted the Certificate “To Quoc Ghi Cong”.
2. Policies for 13 sacrificed officers and soldiers and allowances for their relatives and families
- Regarding policies for martyrs:
+ Martyrs are to be organized for announcement of death, funeral, and burial:
The agencies, organizations, and units of martyrs are responsible for cooperating with the People's Committees of communes, wards, and commune-level towns where the martyr’s family resides to solemnly organize the funeral rites for the martyrs.
+ The State and the People build, manage, care for, and preserve memorial works for martyrs, including graves, cemeteries, monuments, and martyr name plaques.
- Regarding allowances for relatives and families of martyrs:
According to Clause 1 Article 1 of Decree 58/2019/ND-CP, the standard level for determining preferential allowances for people with meritorious services to the revolution is 1,624,000 VND. Based on this standard allowance and Clause 2, Article 14 of the 2012 Ordinance on Incentives for People with Meritorious Services to the Revolution (Amended), the allowance policies for the relatives and families of martyrs include:
| Allowance items/beneficiaries | Allowance level |
| 1. Lump-sum death gratuity | 20 times the standard level => 20 x 1,624,000 = 32,480,000 VND |
| 2. Monthly pension | |
| - Pension for relatives of one martyr | 1,624,000 VND |
| - Pension for relatives of two martyrs | 3,248,000 VND |
| - Pension for relatives of three or more martyrs | 4,872,000 VND |
| - Pension for the spouse of a martyr who remarries (ineligible for additional nurturing pension) | 1,624,000 VND |
| - Biological parents, spouse, caregivers of martyrs, children over 18 years old living alone without support, or orphaned children under 18 receiving monthly pension are eligible for additional nurturing pension | 1,299,000 VND |
| 3. When reporting death, if the martyr no longer has relatives as per regulations, the inheritors of the martyr holding the Certificate "Grateful Nation" receive the lump-sum pension the same as the martyr's relatives | 32,480,000 VND |
| 4. If the martyr has no one receiving a monthly pension, the caretaker of the martyr’s altar receives a worship allowance | 500,000 VND |
| 5. Relatives of martyrs | The State purchases health insurance; Prioritized for land or water surface allocation, concessional loans for production, tax exemptions or reductions as per legal provisions; Housing support. |
| 6. Biological parents, caregivers from childhood, spouses, disabled children of martyrs | Receive health rehabilitation care every two years. (In case biological parents have only one child who is a martyr or have two or more children who are martyrs, they receive annual health rehabilitation care) |
| 7. Relatives of martyrs receiving monthly pension | Provided necessary assistive devices and orthopedic tools based on individual circumstances and the State’s capability; At death, funeral expenses will be provided, and relatives receive a death gratuity. |
| 8. Children of martyrs | Enjoy preferential support policies, including: - Priority in enrollment and job creation; - Support for studying at educational institutions up to the university level |
Overall, the above-mentioned policies and allowances cannot compensate for the loss of the families and relatives of the 13 sacrificed officers and soldiers. However, the support provided by the State is hoped to help the families and relatives of the sacrificed officers and soldiers overcome immediate difficulties and stabilize their lives.
Thuy Tram
- Key word:
- Policies
- officers
- Soldiers
- sacrificed
- Vietnam
