Nineteen central government departments are joining forces to
help homeless children, the Legal Daily reported
yesterday.
The government's focus is to prevent children from living on the
streets, and to help those who are already there.
Children will be provided with the basic means of living as well
as some psychological guidance. The departments also plan to crack
down on groups of teenage criminals.
Increased funds will be used to improve the drop-in centers for
street children, said Dou Yupei, vice minister of civil affairs,
according to the Legal Daily.
The Ministry of Civil Affairs is raising its standards for the
drop-in centers, Dou said. New specifications will be set for
equipment, services, management and staff qualifications.
The 130 nationwide drop-in centers will employ full-time
personnel, with training in psychology, moral, cultural and legal
education and professional skill training, the newspaper
reported.
The conference was held Friday in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, and
included the ministries of civil affairs, education and public
security.
This is China's first comprehensive document dedicated to the
protection and management of homeless kids. The document clearly
defines the respective duties for each department.
For example, local educational departments are charged with
helping homeless kids return home, and will also provide financial
support and special educational care. The local departments of
labor and social security will offer free introduction and training
programs of employment to homeless kids above the age of 16.
Officials will be evaluated based on their ability to fulfill
the new requirements of helping to protect and manage street kids.
Officials proved incompetent will be punished.
In 2005, China had about 150,000 homeless children, according to
statistics from the Ministry of Civil Affairs.
The figure has remained steady throughout the past few years.
Currently, there are 130 drop-in centers and more than 1,000
rescuing and management stations in China.
Among all drop-in centers, about 80 need urgent facility and
personnel upgrades.
(China Daily January 24, 2006)