Why is the old system for dealing with vagrants and beggars to be
abolished? How will the new regulations, which are to go into force
on August 1, help these vulnerable members of society in urban
areas?
Zhang Shifeng, deputy director of the Social Welfare and Social
Affairs Department of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, had the
answers when he was interviewed by the People's Daily.
Zhang first recognized that the extant measures had played a
positive role over the years in guaranteeing basic rights for
vagrants and beggars. But he pointed out that neither the current
operation of the system nor its style of management are continuing
to meet the real needs of today's society. To make matters worse
the law is not being properly applied in some places and this was
what had finally put the problem under the spotlight.
He
emphasized the new voluntary nature of the regulations being
brought in. Those who are following this life style will be able to
apply for help at shelters established to cater for the needs of
vagrants and beggars living in urban areas. This help should be
immediately forthcoming. "Such applications will be made entirely
on a voluntary basis," said Zhang.
In
the meantime, he noted that the personal freedom of those receiving
aid at the shelters would be guaranteed. They can leave the
shelters at any time and the shelters must not impose any
restriction on their movements.
The new regulations are sensitive to issues of equality. "Aid from
the shelters is not bestowed as a favor, it is the basic right of a
person living a vagrant life to obtain help," said Zhang.
"Social relief is a government responsibility so the costs should
be born by government. It should be easily accessible," Zhang said.
"In the meantime, shelters should be run with an open style of
management."
Will the new regulations lead to some people being reluctant to
leave their shelter and blocking places which should be made
available for those really in need?
According to Zhang, the new social relief system is intended to
offer only short-term assistance until the recipients can sort
their lives out. "It aims to help vagrants and beggars overcome
immediate difficulties in their life. There will be time
restriction and the beneficiaries will not be able to stay on in a
shelter indefinitely," he said.
"Ultimately the real answer for these people is to go back to their
homes or to be protected under the social security system," Zhang
said.
For instance, where it is possible to identify the head of the
family in respect of an elderly or disabled person or the legal
guardian of a minor, they will be contacted to come and collect
them so they can take them back home and look after them.
Where it is not clear who should look after them or if household
registration cannot be clearly identified, the local government
where the shelter is located will help resettle them. The local
government will also help resettle those who still find themselves
homeless even after they return to where they are registered.
Following adoption of the new measures by the State Council
(China's cabinet) at its 12th executive meeting on June 18,
Ministry of Civil Affairs issued a circular within its system,
requiring that all holding centers across the country should now
stop receiving new admissions referred by the public security
authorities under the two-decades-old "Measures for Internment and
Deportation of Urban Vagrants and Beggars".
The cases of those currently in the centers will be reviewed.
Anyone there without good reason will have to leave.
For those who suffer from mental deficiency and diseases and have
lived there for years, the holding centers should arrange to
provide them with medical treatment and advise the local government
so that arrangements can be made for their resettlement.
Holding centers that have no vagrants or beggars for the time being
have been urged to take down their security barriers. They should
be transformed into modern shelters for the homeless in need and
not look like jails.
But now there is public concern over whether the new regulations
can be effectively enforced. This is also a question in the minds
of the officials in charge of civil affairs. At present, the
Ministry of Civil Affairs is working up the detailed rules for the
implementation of the new regulations.
One issue currently being addressed by the Ministry is how exactly
to define "urban vagrants and beggars having no means of
livelihood."
The general principle to be followed according to Zhang is to
ensure that those who really need help get help. These are the
people who live as vagrants and beggars in the cities not from
choice but because they are unable to make their own living.
However those who have turned to vagrancy and begging as a
lifestyle or even as a means of making money should be
excluded.
Detailed implementation will require a robust system based on
effective procedures all the way from initial application through
to provision of the aid. Those in need must be assured of immediate
and effective access to the help they need and to which they are
entitled.
"The Ministry of Civil Affairs is also working on measures to
clearly assign responsibilities for and introduce procedures in
relation to the reporting of serious incidents," said Zhang adding
that as a government department, the Ministry of Civil Affairs will
strengthen its supervisory mechanisms.
And now the people who receive the aid are to have a voice in the
supervision of the shelters, according to Zhang. A complaints
procedure is to be introduced. Where they feel that a shelter has
not lived up to its legal obligations they will be able to make
representations to the local civil affairs authority.
If
the complaint is found to be valid, the competent civil affairs
authority will be expected to censure those responsible. What's
more if the civil authority fails to take the necessary action,
those involved can expect to face the consequences of their
administrative inaction.
(China.org.cn translated by Chen Qiuping, July 4, 2003)