Starting from fall this year, all students from impoverished families in Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, will have green access to school, with a card issued by the government.

The card, called studying-and-living card, is issued by the Chengdu city government. According to the document issued, all students from impoverished families in the city can go to pubic schools with tuition free for their nine-year compulsory education.

With the said card, these students can also get monthly living subsidies.

The Chengdu government will allocate 20 million yuan for the project, while local counties, districts and townships will each allocate certain amounts of fund for this specific purpose. 

The beneficiaries will also receive free textbooks, exercise books, and information education.

Criterions for a student to get such a card are as follows:

1. The student's family live on the minimum living allowance from government for urban residents in Sichuan Province.
2. The student is from an absolutely impoverished family.
3. Both his or her parents are dead, or one of them is a martyr or an injured army man.
4. The family cannot make a living because of diseases or natural catastrophes.

Students who apply for such subsidies have to be in public schools in Chengdu.

(China.org.cn August 28, 2004)