| The minimum living allowance for rural residents has been legislated to be at least 70% of that provided in urban areas. At home care for the aged will be promoted across Guangzhou and the aged will enjoy more favorable health and care policies, said Li Zhizhen, Director of the Bureau of Civil Affairs of the Guangzhou Municipality. These remarks were made while Li Zhizhen was recently being interviewed on the subject of civil affairs under the guidance of scientific outlook on development on February 19th.
Li said that, to narrow the gap between the minimum living allowance guidelines as practiced in rural and urban areas is the first step to be taken by the Bureau for Harmonious Development between rural and urban areas. Thus, Guangzhou will establish and improve systems concerning urban and rural low-income and needy households in order to have a uniform and improved standard of minimum living allowances.
According to the systems, low-income and needy households that enjoy minimum living allowance will fall into three categories:
1: Rural low-income or needy families can enjoy at least 70% of the minimum living allowance as practiced in urban areas by 2012.
2: Besides full implementation of policies for rural households enjoying five guarantees (childless and infirm old persons who are guaranteed food, clothing, medical care, housing and burial expenses), subsidies will be offered to rural and urban self-employers.
3:聽Ex-servicemen from rural and urban areas will enjoy equal treatment in relation to employment. Li also said that Guangzhou is formulating Medical Aid Guidelines for Needy Citizens in Guangzhou.
Priority will also be given to promotion of the system of care for the aged at home in all communities in Guangzhou, said Li. By the end of 2009, Xing Guang Zhi Jia, a facility providing recreation and health care for the aged, will be established in each of the communities in Guangzhou. Meanwhile, Guangzhou will modify regulations concerning operation and management of such facilities.
Too, favorable policies are being introduced to better serve the aged. For example, a special pension that used to be available only for those who are over 100 years old can now be enjoyed by those who are over 90 years old. Such a practice has won great popularity and the aged over 90 years old in Liwan District have received the pension during this Spring Festival.
(Translated by Guangzhou Association of Foreign Affairs Translators)
Editor: 寮犺幑
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