It is time to reform the household registration system in the
country, says a commentary in Beijing News. An excerpt
follows:
In an online survey conducted by the social research center of
China Youth Daily, 91.7 percent of those surveyed think it
necessary to reform the current permanent residence registration
system. Though there may be a margin of error, the high agreement
rate, to a certain degree, suggests a matured public ground for the
reform.
The public opinion poll agrees with the conclusion of the
government research. After thorough study in 12 provinces and
municipalities last year, the six research teams established by 14
ministries and departments think it is time to reform the household
registration system.
China's household registration system came into being in the
mid-1950s. It divided the population into urban and rural groups
and gave different rights and welfare to each. Residents were not
allowed to migrate freely.
Large numbers of the rural population have entered the cities
and contributed to the urban development in the past few decades
but these people cannot gain legal status as urban residents. The
government's relief measures mainly take care of low-income urban
residents but the rural poor and those rural laborers working in
cities cannot enjoy the benefits.
A harmonious society cannot accept such a serious division of
rights and social welfare. The situation should be changed.
The reform of the household registration system is actually a
redistribution of rights and interests.
(China Daily March 2, 2007)