During the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), the Chinese mainland rolled out a series of ambitious measures to uplift welfare for children and the elderly, Minister of Civil Affairs Lu Zhiyuan announced at a press conference on Friday.
A new protection and care system now covers de facto unattended children – those whose parents are missing, severely disabled, critically ill, imprisoned, deported, or in compulsory drug rehabilitation – as well as 'left-behind' children and migrant children. Compared with 2020, basic living allowances have jumped by 26% for orphans in welfare institutions, 32% for orphans living with their families, and 31% for de facto unattended children.
On the eldercare front, the authorities completed home renovations and redesigned elderly-friendly facilities for 2.24 million households facing special difficulties. The Chinese mainland also launched:
- 500 model community-based eldercare service networks
- 2,990 model elderly-friendly communities
- 86,000 community canteens serving seniors
Subsidies and allowances for very old residents, seniors with financial hardships, and those with disabilities have reached over 49.4 million people, reflecting a data-driven push to build inclusive social safety nets.
As young global citizens tune in, these strides in the Chinese mainland shed light on how social policies can evolve through innovation and targeted investment. What lessons can other nations draw?
Reference(s):
China reports major improvements in welfare for children and elderly
cgtn.com
