Revenue from lotteries should be spent on helping all people in
need, says an article in Spring City Evening. The
following is an excerpt:
According to latest reports, the central government will earmark
300 million yuan ($39.5 million) to help 300,000 students whose
families have difficulty supporting them. The money will come from
the lotteries welfare fund.
In the last two decades, several lotteries have been held in the
country with State consent. But the revenue mostly went to support
the civil affairs and sports development since the General
Administration of Sports and Ministry of Civil Affairs are
responsible for running the lotteries.
The central government has realized the revenue from lotteries
should go to all in need, instead of just a few. So it has decided
to spend the fund on more areas and students are among the first
beneficiaries.
Previously corruption cases have been reported in departments
receiving revenue from the lotteries.
Many people buy lottery tickets not only in the hope of winning
huge prizes, but also to help the needy.
Their kindness would be abused if the malpractice in issuing
lottery, selling lottery and using of lottery revenue is not
checked.
Strict supervision and punishment of the violators would help
stop the abuse of lottery revenue.
The management of lotteries needs to be changed. It needs to run
by independent institutions under the supervision of the
government. Revenue from lotteries need to be carefully
watched.
(China Daily December 26, 2007)