Pingnan strives to alleviate poverty

( chinadaily.com.cn )

Updated: 2015-05-29

This year, Pingnan county set a specific goal on poverty relief – to construct a well-off society by 2020 at a consistent pace with Ningde city.

Therefore, 2,975 households will escape poverty, 39 poor villages will reach the county's average income and 120 remote villages will relocate, according to the local government.

"Two landslides nearly destroyed houses. My house caught fire once and the makeshift hut couldn't withstand harsh weather," said Zheng Chengsui, a native in Kangli village, who receives the minimum living guarantee.

"But it’s OK now," said Zheng with a smile, knocking the thick white wall of her new house, "we never live on tenterhooks."

In 2008, Kangli village was on the list to relocate.

"In addition to subsidies from the governments at higher levels, we were funded with another 6 million yuan ($967,800) for capital construction projects," said Zheng Fujiao, the director of Kangli village, pointing at the rows of new houses.

Nowadays, 200 households from Kangli village have moved to 189 3.5-storey rural villas, occupying 8 hectares.

Rows of new houses [Photo/cn-bsy.com]

Hu Xiaoqing, the director of Pingnan's poverty-relief office, said: "Kangli village is a miniature of Pingnan's beautiful countryside, due to years of work in poverty alleviation and development."

Hu added that Pingnan has introduced preferential policies to subsidize and build infrastructure, along with integrating resources.

"It's not just a dream to shake off poverty and become better off, with joint effort between governments and the masses," Hu said with confidence.

The same goes for Qianliyang village, which used to have a dirty, disorderly and impoverished environment.

However, now it has a new look: carp are swimming in rivers; livestock are reared in pens; illegal buildings are being dismantled…

Carp are swimming in a river. [Photo/cn-bsy.com]

"Qianliyang village is making great efforts to build a well-off society. For example, a sports park is inviting tenders, an agricultural market is in the planning, and artistry is applying for Ningde's intangible cultural heritage status," said Liu Xinyue, the Party branch secretary of the village.

In 2014, the poor population in Pingnan decreased from 24,000 in 2000 to 9,000.