The construction of a new countryside should aim to let farmers
live a well-off life, says a commentary in National Business
Daily. An excerpt follows:
According to the National Bureau of Statistics, about 28.2
percent of the rural population reached the level of "well-off" in
2005, which is 6.6 percentage points higher than the previous year.
The new countryside construction has brought great changes to rural
China but an all-round well-off life is still beyond the reach of
the majority of farmers.
Improving farmers' living conditions and eliminating the
urban-rural gap is a goal the government has stressed in the past
two decades. The development of rural areas should be integrated
into the overall modernization of China.
Urbanization should be more broadly understood. More rural
surplus laborers should be transferred to cities and towns to
change traditional rural living modes. That is the way for farmers
to share the fruits of economic growth.
Additionally, the industrialization of agriculture and
construction of small towns should be included into the country's
modernization strategy.
Systematic support should be provided for the training of
farmers. More employment channels should be provided for the rural
population to enter cities. The institutional restriction on the
migration of rural populations, such as the permanent residence
registration system and some local limitations should be
eradicated. Policies should be carried out to guarantee equal
treatment for urban and rural residents in social security, health
care, housing, education and employment.
It should be noted that some local officials and business people
now join hands to deprive farmers of their land in the name of "new
countryside construction." Though the central government has
carried out various land policies to protect farmers' interests, it
is more important to find a legal path to curb the abuse of
administrative power.
(China Daily November 7, 2006)