The Cause of the Formation of China’s Vulnerable Groups in Rural Areas and Relevant Relief Measures - 中欧社会论坛 - China Europa Forum

The Cause of the Formation of China’s Vulnerable Groups in Rural Areas and Relevant Relief Measures

Abstract

Authors: Zheng Jun, Chen Xiyong

Date: 2007

Published by Statistics and Decision

I. The Cause of Formation of Vulnerable Groups in China

1. Political and historical reason

Shortly after the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the government proposed an “agriculture-based, industry-led” principle; China decided on a development strategy which was to realise the accumulation of capital for industrial development through agriculture. This kind of relationship between China’s agriculture and industry continues to this day. Since the founding of the People’s Republic of China, due to issues related to political decisions, rural population in China received unfair treatment, resulting in a large number of vulnerable groups in rural areas.

2. Reasons due to economic system reform

(1) A significant decline in agricultural income

(2) Township enterprises began to shrink. In recent years, a large number of township enterprises were severely affected by the Bubble Economy and those enterprises which had been prosperous were no longer able to produce profits, resulting in a large number of annual retrenchments in rural areas. Instead of generating new labour forces, the labour force is going down by the thousands. A great number of farmers are waiting to be re-employed.

(3) Difficult situation of off-farm workers in cities

Many farmers rely on earnings from working in cities as the only way to feed their families, but as the government does not provide any overall information regarding employment in cities, farmers leave for cities without much information. Meanwhile, many cities set up obstacles to restrict off-farm workers from working in cities, worsening their situation.

(4) Rights of farmers who have lost land cannot be guaranteed. Compensation standard for land acquisition is extremely low. In addition, resettlement plans fail to meet different requirements. Landless farmers have no living guarantee. A one-time compensation approach is applied for the majority of landless farmers. The lack of both legal protection and supporting policies resulted in an expansion of vulnerable groups in rural areas.

3. Cultural reasons

China’s culture is different from Western culture. They differ in areas such as family relations, interactions, and comforts.

4. Reasons due to legal system construction

Since the founding of the People’s Republic of China, great attention has been paid towards the protection of the rights of vulnerable groups. However, for various reasons, the protection of the rights of vulnerable groups in rural areas has been seriously neglected. Illegal administration in rural areas also severely harmed the interests of farmers.

II. Aid Policy for Vulnerable Groups

1. The main source of relief funds for rural areas depends on the state funding. The central government should take the primary responsibility for the formation of vulnerable groups in rural areas. Therefore, the main source of relief funding for vulnerable groups in rural areas should come from financial allocation.

2. State-owned enterprises and local governments should play an essential complementary role in helping vulnerable groups in rural areas.

3. We should strengthen relevant legal systems for vulnerable groups in rural areas. Only in this way, as well as strengthening law enforcement and supervision, can we truly protect the legal rights of vulnerable groups in rural areas and maintain social order.

4. We should vigorously promote Chinese traditional culture and continue to encourage the mutual aid between families and the community.

5. We should strengthen the establishment of a social security system in rural areas. We can start by establishing the minimum living standard guarantee system, rely on the principle of equity and efficiency, and build a comprehensive, multi-level social security system. In addition, it is wrong to ignore the role of social mutual aid. Farmers can make use of material assistance from this kind of mutual aid, resolving difficulties in work and family life. It is also a good supplementary support in addition to the national support, preventing the expansion of vulnerable groups in rural areas.

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