Zhang Jianli and Wang Shulian, an old couple in a village of Chengde in north China's Hebei Province, recently received 1,200 yuan (US$144) in rewards from the local government for sticking to the government's one-child policy.

Twenty-eight years ago, Zhang and Wang decided to have only one child, a daughter, though they could have had another according to family planning policies then.

"Even if I had had another son, he might not bring me so much money in a year when I get old," said Zhang. "It (sticking to the one-child policy) was worth it."

China launched a pilot program last April in 15 Chinese cities, giving cash rewards to rural couples who were willing to have only one child or two daughters. According to the new policy, each of the couples could get at least 600 yuan (US$72) every year when they are over 60 years old.

The policy provides reassurance to couples in rural areas who worry about their old age. In 2004, 4,781 farmers in Chengde benefited from the policy, receiving rewards of 2.87 million yuan (US$0.35 million).

In the meantime, encouraged by the policy, 2,283 rural couples in the city voluntarily decided to have only one child and more than 3,400 others delayed their plans to have a second child.

Chinese farmers traditionally prefer sons to daughters, as sons usually lived with and supported their parents when they get old, while daughters were married into other families and were considered economically "useless" to parents.

The rewards significantly improved the lives of the elders in the city. There are six poverty-stricken counties in Chengde, and the average income of the farmers in those counties was only 1,530yuan (185 US dollars) in the whole year of 2003.

"In the past, we worried that our daughter would not be able to afford to support us when we get old," said Wang Ziyu, a farmer in the city's Pingquan County. "But now with government support, we have nothing to worry about." Wang and his wife, in their middle thirties, recently gave up the idea of having another baby.

Besides economic benefits, local governments have also given these farmers various kinds of honors to let them feel glorious by having one child.

"China's family planning policies have been in place for more than 30 years," said Chen Xiu'e, deputy director of the Hebei Population and Family Planning Commission. "Now that the first adheres to the policy have entered old age, it's our responsibility to ensure they have carefree lives in their late years. It is also one of the best way to persuade young parents to stick to the policy."

China implemented the one-child policy in late 1970s in order to control the country's rocketing population. The policy regulated that each urban couple could only give birth to one baby, while rural couples could have another baby if the first baby was female. Ethnic minorities were allowed to have two or more children under various conditions. Those who broke the policy were punished severely in ways of being fined or being fired from government organizations.

The policy has been loosened to some extent in recent years. In some provinces, couples meeting certain conditions can have two babies even if they are not ethnic minorities.

In 2004, more than 400 thousand Chinese farmers over 60 with one child or two daughters received rewards from governments.

(Xinhua News Agency February 27, 2005)