More aid needed for street children

The Shanghai Women's Federation is calling for more efforts to address the issue of street children.

In November, five boys aged 9 to 13 who were staying in a dumpster inhaled deadly fumes after lighting a fire to stay warm in Bijie, Guizhou province. Their deaths have exposed the weaknesses of the aid system for street children.

There is an urgent need to develop a complete aid system for street children and more work should be done to protect them, according to a proposal the Shanghai Women's Federation submitted to the Shanghai People's Congress.

In addition to increasing the government's budget, more funds should be collected from various social organizations to protect homeless juveniles, it said.

Local aid centers should also offer psychological assistance to street children, it said.