More than 700,000 vagrants and beggars in Chinese cities
received government assistance last year, but the aid has failed to
reach all of China's homeless population, a senior official from
the Ministry of Civil Affairs said on Thursday.
Around 100,000 children also received help last year from the
country's 1,100 relief stations and 130 relief centers for
children, said Li Liguo, vice minister of Civil Affairs.
Li did not give the specific number of homeless people, but
promised to help more vagrants and beggars this year.
Li said the government would improve the relief station system
based on last year's experience, and would continue to offer help
to urban vagrants and beggars this year.
"Instead of only helping those who come to relief stations
themselves, we will take the initiative to offer help to all those
in need this year," Li said.
The Ministry of Civil Affairs would improve the relief station
facilities this year, and would set up more branch stations in
downtown areas where vagrants and beggars tend to congregate.
The ministry would also lend more support to non-governmental
organizations that provide help to the vagrant population, and
would raise public awareness about the location and services of
relief stations and relevant laws and regulations, according to
Li.
"It is impossible to completely get rid of vagrants and beggars
in urban areas, but we are improving the relief station system and
narrowing regional differences to reduce the number of homeless
people," Li said.
However, many of vagrants and beggars refused government help
for various reasons.
"A number of those refusing help are professional beggars,
including some who even kidnap children from remote rural areas and
force them to gain sympathy and beg for money," said Li.
(Xinhua News Agency January 11, 2007)
