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China to overhaul social safety net for poor and disaster victims
- Changes meant to help those who fall through the cracks of existing programmes, observer says
- Health, housing, education, and employment among areas to be targeted
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China will overhaul its social safety net programme and build a tiered social assistance system to cover the poor and vulnerable both in urban and rural areas in two years, the State Council said in a notice issued on Tuesday.
Observers said the changes were critical because the existing system was inadequate and China needed to create a new safety net to meet social needs.
The notice, which outlines the general directions of the reform plan, aims to consolidate the achievements of China’s poverty alleviation programmes and improve the welfare of the people.
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It calls for medical, housing, education, and employment help for the elderly, children and disabled and those who live on the edge of poverty.
It also highlights the need for more help for victims of emergencies and disasters, including people who have accidental injuries or major diseases, or experience natural disasters or epidemics.
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Fisherman left behind in China's poverty alleviation plan
The system focuses on two groups of people: those who are poverty-stricken and those who need temporary relief because of natural disasters or public emergencies, according to Li Changan, a specialist in labour economics at the University of International Business and Economics.
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