From this year onward coverage of the minimum living allowance
system for rural areas will be expanded from pilot areas to
encompass all rural lands, the State Council said.
This coverage will provide the rural poor a basic social safety
net. Yet where do these funds come from? Who would be covered? What
regulations are already in operation? To clarify these issues, the
People's Daily interviewed Li Liguo, vice minister of
civil affairs.
System takes shape across the nation
According to Li, the initiative to provide minimum living
allowance in rural areas was raised at the 16th National Congress
of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in 2002. It began well. By
the end of last year, 24 provinces, autonomous regions and
municipalities have established such a system, covering a total of
15.09 million people. By the end of June 2007, the figures rose to
31 and 20.86 million respectively.
3 billion granted in subsidies
Concerning the implementation of this system in places with poor
financial resources, Li said that the central government requires
the local government, whether in developed provinces or
underdeveloped regions, to incorporate the input on subsistence
allowance into its fiscal budget. Local financial authorities are
urged to give top priority to improving people's livelihoods while
devising the budget.
In addition to money from local finances, other important
financial channels are the special grants allotted by the central
government. This money is granted to local governments that are
struggling financially.
In 2007, the Ministry of Finance granted 3 billion yuan in
subsidies for this purpose. Meanwhile, the central government has
also asked local governments at all levels, the provincial in
particular, to increase their input regarding subsistence
allowances. The 24 provincial governments put a total of 5.55
billion yuan into the pot last year. 7 billion yuan is visible for
the current year.
Transparent operation
When asked how to ensure that the system as well as the
supervision is functioning well, Li said the key is to prevent
malpractice and fiscal irregularities so that no unqualified
candidates are covered.
The State Council requires through information disclosure. The
procedure is standardized and consists of three steps:
investigation of a candidate's income, followed by deliberation at
village level; checks on the income at the township level;
assessment and approval of candidates at the county level.
In the meantime, intra-department supervision is combined with
administrative ethics building to ensure the system functions well.
Watchdogs not only include those in finance, auditing and
supervision departments, but also included are the media, delegates
from the people's congress.
In the future, all oversights would be institutionalized,
guaranteeing that more work would be done on a daily basis.
More focus on vulnerable groups
Li also answered following questions: What are the conditions to
qualify as an eligible rural candidate? How do the old, the young
and the disabled apply for the allowance?
According to him, the State Council has stipulated in its
document that beneficiaries of the rural minimum living allowance
system will be rural residents whose annual per capita net income
is lower than the local minimum living standard. These are largely
those who suffer chronic living difficulties due to illness,
disabilities, old age, or poor living conditions.
Regarding the minimum living standard, it depends upon local
conditions. The National Bureau of Statistics releases the rural
poverty line listing every year. It was 683 yuan and 693 yuan for
2005 and 2006 respectively.
Anyone who meets both the national requirements and the local
requirements can apply for the allowance. Candidates undergo an
investigation until they meet with approval.
One of the merits in this system is that the old, the disabled
and orphans are entitled to a few special services. This is handled
in two ways; those who suffer from very poor living conditions
would be entitled to relatively higher subsistence allowances. If a
candidate has difficulties applying for or obtaining the money, he
or she could ask his or her supporter, guardian or neighbor to do
it for him or her.
(China.org.cn by Xu Jin, Aug 29, 2007)