The State Council, or the Chinese cabinet, published Thursday
regulations on guarantee for the living of rural seniors or
disadvantaged.
Rural seniors and disadvantaged people who are not able to earn
a living and have no supports from their family members should be
given care and help in food, clothing, housing, medical service and
burial, according to the regulations. Rural disadvantaged minors
under or above 16 years old should be secured with the money for a
compulsory education, it said.
"The fund for supporting the helpless should be arranged from
local government budgets or revenues of rural collectives," said
the regulations, which will be effective on March 1, 2006.
The central government will also set aside money for the
helpless where the local governments face financial
difficulties.
Service centers and facilities for the helpless should be taken
into account when local governments work out their social and
economic development programs and all the staff working with the
supporting centers should be well-trained, according to the
regulation.
(Xinhua News Agency January 27, 2006)