Ninh Binh strengthens the management of donations at historical and cultural relics

In recent years, the work of preserving and promoting the value of cultural heritage has been comprehensively implemented, from state management of cultural heritage to specialized activities such as: inventory and identification of heritage, scientific research; protection, restoration and restoration of relics against degradation, and promotion of the value of cultural heritage. Therefore, the fine traditional historical and cultural values of the land and people of Ninh Binh have been preserved, inherited and promoted.

Every year, in Binh Hoa village (Khanh Hong commune, Yen Khanh), the Binh Hoa temple festival takes place, attracting a large number of locals and tourists to attend the festival. The temple worshiping the generals of the Trung Trac and Trung Nhi dynasties is always preserved by the local people and promoted as a provincial-level historical and cultural relic.

Mr. Pham Dinh Lieu, Deputy Head of the Binh Hoa Temple Festival Committee, said: Every year, the traditional festival of Binh Hoa Temple takes place for 2 days with ceremonial and festival activities. The organization of the festival always strictly complies with regulations on implementing a civilized lifestyle. Households participating in business and trading during the festival all sign a commitment to comply with the sale of goods and food that ensure food safety, not soliciting, raising prices... Although the festival activities are organized enthusiastically, attracting a large number of people from neighboring villages and communes to attend, the Temple Festival Committee always does a good job of not allowing gambling and fraud to appear in the festival space, creating conditions for people and tourists to attend the festival in a joyful, healthy and safe manner.

Leading us to visit the historical site of Binh Hoa Temple and introducing information about the temple, Mr. Pham Dinh Lieu also shared: The management of donations and sponsorships at the site is carried out by the Festival Committee in accordance with regulations, with a public and transparent record book. However, because it is a small temple in the village, the number of tourists visiting and worshiping is not much. In the management work, the Festival Committee of the temple always focuses on guiding tourists to follow the regulations on placing offerings and donations...

Talking with comrade Dao Duc Tinh, Vice Chairman of Khanh Hong Commune People's Committee, it was known that: In Khanh Hong Commune, there are 3 provincial-level historical and cultural relics, 3 pagodas, 4 temples worshipping Mother Goddesses, and 6 village festivals take place every year in the commune. With the system of historical relics owned, the locality has paid attention to the work of preserving and maintaining traditional cultural values, activelyeducating the younger generation about the historical traditions of their homeland and country. At the same time, it also contributes to promoting local tourism, so that the relics become destinations for many tourists.

In management, Khanh Hong commune always pays attention to the management of donations and sponsorships at relics to ensure that all donations and contributions are public and transparent. Therefore, the relic management board of the commune has directed the relics' celebration committees, managers and representatives to comply with legal regulations in opening records and establishing accounts... for the contributions, support and sponsorships of people and tourists.

Ninh Binh strengthens the management of donations at historical and cultural relics — The festival committee of Saint Nguyen Temple (Gia Phuong Commune, Gia Tien, Gia Vien District) receives donations from locals and tourists. Photo: Minh Quang

As a locality possessing many provincial and national historical relics such as: Thanh Nguyen Temple - National architectural and artistic relic; Kiem Linh Mountain national historical relic; Bo De Temple provincial historical and cultural relic..., Gia Tien commune (Gia Vien) has many opportunities to develop tourism, promote socio-economic development .

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Hoa, Vice Chairman of Gia Tien Commune People's Committee, Head of the Celebration Committee of Saint Nguyen Temple, said: The locality has done a good job of managing donations and sponsorships at the relics. In addition to the management of the relic management board, the Celebration Committee has done a good job of managing revenue and expenditure, keeping records, monitoring, and setting up bank accounts to receive donations and sponsorships, and the spending has full invoices and vouchers. Every year, the Celebration Committee has a full report to the Relic Management Board as well as inspection teams from higher levels. Therefore, for many years, funds from donations and sponsorships have been used for the management, restoration, embellishment and protection of relics in accordance with the provisions of law.

Currently, the province has 1,821 relics, including 3 special national relics (Hoa Lu Ancient Capital Historical and Architectural Relic, Non Nuoc Mountain Historical and Scenic Relic, Trang An-Tam Coc-Bich Dong Scenic Relic); 99 national relics; 335 provincial relics and 1,384 relics included in the local inventory.

Pursuant to Document No. 11752/BTC-HCSN dated October 30, 2023 of the Ministry of Finance on guidelines for the inspection of the management of donations and sponsorships at historical and cultural relics, the People's Committee of Ninh Binh province issued Decision No. 890/QD-UBND dated December 15, 2023 on the overall inspection of the management of donations and sponsorships at historical and cultural relics in Ninh Binh province.

The Provincial People's Committee has assigned the People's Committees of districts and cities to inspect the management of donations and sponsorships at historical and cultural relics in the area. Particularly for the special relic of Hoa Lu Ancient Capital (managed by the Center for Conservation of Historical and Cultural Relics of Hoa Lu Ancient Capital - a public service unit under the Department of Culture and Sports), the Department of Finance is assigned to preside over and coordinate with relevant agencies and units to conduct the inspection.

The inspection results show that in the area, 1,138/1,821 relics have generated revenue and expenditure for donations; 757 relics have not generated revenue and expenditure for donations. Of which, in 2023, the total revenue of 1,138 relics is 110,792 million VND, excluding donations and sponsorships in kind (except gold, silver, precious metals, precious stones), construction works and donations and sponsorships for religious activities of religious organizations.

From the revenue, the relics spent 13,848 million VND on management activities; 12,323 million VND on festival activities; 62,256 million VND on restoration and embellishment of relics; 3,822 million VND on charity and humanitarian activities; other expenses (propaganda and promotion of festivals and relics; ensuring security and order, health care, environmental protection, fire prevention and fighting; renovation and upgrading of auxiliary works including toilets, internal roads, electricity, water supply and drainage, parking lots...) were 13,629 million VND.

At the basic relics, donation boxes and donation tables have been arranged, and donation boxes are placed in appropriate locations. The receipt of donations is carried out through forms such as vouchers, books, and donation boxes. The facilities have recorded, organized inventory, supervised the inventory process, and opened books to record the amount of donations collected.

Monitoring, management, supervision and operation have been paid more attention and closely followed. Periodically, counting and supervising the reception and counting of money in the donation box have been organized. The counting process has been witnessed by relevant parties.

In addition, the opening of books to track the receipts and expenditures of donations is still small, irregular and not continuous. Most of the relics have not opened accounts at the State Treasury or banks to receive and track the receipts and expenditures from donations. Only a few relics have opened accounts to track and receive such as: Hoa Lu Ancient Capital Historical and Cultural Relics Conservation Center; Van Palace - Ninh Binh City.

The reception, management and use of donation money, sponsorship for relics and festival activities in Ninh Binh are gradually being implemented according to regulations; the recording of books and the reception of donations are gradually being regularly monitored; the counting, collection and expenditure of donation money contribute to ensuring strictness, publicity, transparency and compliance with regulations, contributing to the socio-economic development of the locality.

Bui Dieu

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