Policies and Initiatives for Poverty alleviation for Persons with Disability in China

A country paper by

Mr. Shang Yingchun, China Disabled People’s Federation

There are 60 million persons with disabilities in China, 80% of whom live in the rural areas. Remarkable progress has been achieved through more than a decade’s efforts since poverty alleviation projects for PWDs started to be implemented in 1992.

10 million people now can provide for their own basic necessities. The number of PWDs under the poverty line dropped from 20 million in 1992 to 10.65 million by the end of 2004.
4.8 million persons with disability have received applied training in agriculture production technologies. Most of the trained people are able to provide for their won basic necessities using what they have learnt.
30,000 rural households with persons of disabilities have a better home to live in as a result of the housing renovation program.

We identify the following policies and initiatives as key to our success in the unique Chinese context.

I. Incorporating poverty alleviation for persons with disabilities into the overall national poverty alleviation strategy with governments playing a major role

The governments and relevant departments are committed to poverty alleviation for persons with disabilities. Since 1991, the State Council has approved three national five-year workprograms for Persons with Disabilities which publish in the form of a national programe the objectives, guidelines and specific actions for poverty alleviation for persons with disabilities. In 1997, a nationwide household survey was conducted to find out the exact number of poverty population living in the rural areas. In 1998, Key Area Plan for Poverty alleviation for Persons with Disabilities(1998-2000) and Implementation Plan for Poverty alleviation for Rural Population with Disabilities were developed. These documents further elaborated the goals, tasks, approaches, policies and actions for poverty alleviation for persons with disabilities. The 2001-2010 Poverty alleviation Plan for Persons with Disabilities was formulated to serve as a framework for the next phase in the new millennium.

The local governments had set a clear goal and taken concrete measures in their poverty alleviation for persons with disabilities.

II. A mechanism of social support and cooperation among the relevant departments

We call on the government organizations, State-owned enterprises, private firms, volunteers, party members, workers, students, and neighborhoods to help persons with disabilities in a format of “one-to-one help”.

III. National Rehabilitation and Poverty Alleviation Funds

Since 1992, China established a program named Rehabilitation and Poverty-Reduction Fund. The Central Government provides loan subsidiary. Specific standards have been set in various areas including the application process, interest rate, and distribution channel, and etc. Meanwhile, the agricultural bank, along with the Chinese disabled persons’ Federation had made several inspections on the issuance of the funds. All these ensured the safe usage of this fund, and the funds utilization rate reached 80%.

The local government continuously strengthened their work in helping persons with disabilities. They set aside a certain amount of funds to reduce poverty. In 2004, the total amount of funds specialized in poverty alleviation for disabled persons were 93.79 million RMB. In some areas, the local government took a certain portion of poverty alleviation funds allocated from the central government to help the disabled persons living in poverty; Some of the local government set aside a certain amount of capital for the purpose of interest discount project to help the disabled persons’ association apply for loans from banks and credit unions. All these efforts have contributed to the work of poverty alleviation for persons with disabilities.

IV. A service system of the local disabled person’s federations to serve the rural disabled person in an effective and timely manner.

The local governments actively helped the agricultural bank of China in issuance and management of the Rehabilitation and poverty alleviation loans. They also helped the disabled persons who received the funds to select projects, and make sure they receive proper training and other necessary services. Till the end of 2004, the state has established 1,941 county-level disabled persons’ service centers with 5,636 employees. As for the village-level, there are 19,971 branches of the service centers with 23,805 employees. The service center has become a backbone in supporting the disabled persons’ daily life, and coordinated with the Agricultural Bank of China in the issuance and repayment of the loans. The service center also helped the disabled persons in selecting the right projects to work on, and collaborated with the local agricultural and technology departments to provide all kinds of services to the disabled persons in a timely manner.

VI. Strengthening capacity-building of PWDs

For the persons with disabilities to get rid of poverty, it is important that not only disabled persons need the support from the government and help from others, but also need to be self-independent, self-respect, self-improvement and self-confident. The local governments attach importance to provision of various training classes and seminars to disabled person and train them with practical skills. Through their own diligence, a lot of persons with disabilities shook off poverty. The spirit of independence, self-respect, be strong and confidence had become the inner power of the poverty alleviation work.

In summary, poverty alleviation work is an important work in China and it needs long-term efforts. Currently, China is still a developing country. In the rural areas, the disabled persons’ poverty will exist in a long period of time. Thus, the poverty alleviation work for the disabled persons in China is an arduous work that needs long term efforts.

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Main	Programme	Materials	Online	Bangkok

	Workshop on Community-Based Rehabilitation (CBR) and Poverty Alleviation of Persons with Disabilities Bangkok, 5 July 2005