The Xingyang government in Henan province reportedly plans to turn itself into a "charitable city", for which administrative power could be used to get mandatory donations. Local authorities should stop wasting taxpayers' money on such vanity projects, says an article in China Youth Daily. Excerpt:

Xingyang authorities in Henan province issued a document recently, saying it plans to build a "charitable city".

The local government will set up more than 1,000 charity organizations and select more than 5,000 charity ambassadors.

Charity is part of the material, social and spiritual fabric of the people - it is the result of social awareness and cultural consciousness. But Xingyang doesn't fit the description. It doesn't have a history of or abundant resources for charity. That's why it seems the "charity city" project could compel people to donate against their wish.

The essence of charity is voluntary donation to help someone or to further a just cause. Charity will lose its very meaning if it is made compulsory. At best, the officials can request people to donate. But in reality they don't stop at that.

Many local authorities have made donations mandatory for one project or the other because some officials see "charity work" as a step toward promotion. Some even see it as a "political task", which makes them force out donations from people.

Some employers deduct money from their staff's salaries directly, saying the amount would be donated to charity.

Even teachers sometimes tell their students to get money from their parents to donate for some "cause".

Ambitious officials who want to climb the political ladder fast always plan ostentatious projects such as a "charitable city".

That is nothing but abuse of power and waste of taxpayers' money, and any such act is bound to spark a public controversy.

(China Daily August 13, 2009)