Premier Wen Jiabao disclosed Friday that in 2003 central budget
funds totaling 8.03 billion yuan were spent on relief for people
affected by floods, droughts, earthquakes or other disasters, up
63.9 percent over the previous year, and 2.79 billion yuan was
invested in post-disaster reconstruction.
"We made all-out efforts to fight disasters and ensure adequate
disaster relief, Wen said in a report on the work of the government
at the opening of the Second Session of the Tenth National People's
Congress.
As a result, proper living arrangements were made for people in
disaster-afflicted areas, production resumed and reconstruction
proceeded in an orderly way, he said.
Last year, the government further intensified efforts to
alleviate rural poverty through development and invested more to
improve working and living conditions in underdeveloped areas.
Meanwhile, governments at all levels took the problem of wage
arrears for migrant rural workers very seriously, worked harder to
resolve it and achieved initial results, added the premier.
(Xinhua News Agency March 5, 2004)
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