In a major effort to balance the city of Guangzhou's aging
population parents who are the only children of their families are
being encouraged to have a second child.
"This is not a local policy as the encouragement we are giving
conforms with the national family planning system," said Duan
Jianhua, deputy director of the Guangzhou Population and Family
Planning Committee.
According to a policy issued by the National Population and
Family Planning Commission in 2000 couples from one-child families
in 27 provinces are allowed to have a second child.
"The policy aims to help reduce the pressure on younger members
of society caused by the ever-increasing aging population," said
Duan. However, according to Duan, there are only a small number of
couples in the city willing to have a second child because of the
increased financial burden.
"With both parents coming from one-child families these couples
will bear full responsibility for looking after their parents and
children," said Duan. "As a result many prefer to having no
children to having two."
At present Guangzhou has more than 100,000 married couples
without children and this accounts for 11.3 percent of the total
number of married couples, according to Duan.
In another development the municipal government is considering
providing poorer, only-child families in Guangzhou with financial
aid.
"We're attaching great importance to the living conditions of
such families especially those where parents have lost their jobs
and may not be able to provide a healthy and sound living
environment for their children," said Duan.
According to a recent survey by the local population and family
planning authority more than 8,000 only-child families in the city
have encountered "great financial problems."
According to Duan, another city-wide survey is currently being
conducted on the state of one-child families. Currently, Guangzhou
has 372,631 such families, about 15 percent of the total.
"The survey aims to provide a detailed look at living conditions
especially families' financial situation," said Duan. Financial aid
for families with financial problems would be calculated on its
results. "Parents in these families often have been injured at work
and laid off, or fell seriously ill, leading to lower incomes,"
Duan added.
Based on the survey the local population and family planning
department will submit a proposal to the Guangzhou municipal
government calling for more financial support for these
families.
"These families are supporters of the family planning policy,"
said Duan. "In turn they should be supported by the
government."
(China Daily November 10, 2006)