Organizations urged to pitch in with poverty reduction

The central government has released a circular encouraging social organizations to play a bigger role in the national battle against poverty and requiring authorities to offer favorable policies to facilitate such activities.

Social organizations are vital links between individuals and enterprises willing to make donations to people living in poverty, according to the circular issued by the State Council Leading Group of Poverty Alleviation and Development.

Social organizations are foundations, mass groups and private nonprofit organizations registered with civil affairs authorities. They are encouraged to participate in the development of industry, education and health care in the poverty stricken areas.

They are also encouraged to hold annual conferences or trade fairs in poverty-stricken areas and increase financial input in activities related to poverty reduction, according to the circular.

Social organizations should disclose information in a timely manner and submit their work plans for poverty alleviation to related authorities, it said.

Poverty alleviation authorities at all levels should provide assistance in information, policy and capacity building to social organizations and grant them necessary financial aid and project support, it said.

The circular also urged authorities to carry out regular inspections on organizations’ performances in poverty reduction work and disclose the information to the public.

According to the Ministry of Civil Affairs, China has 757,000 social organizations as of November this year. By the end of 2016, the social organizations in China had 274.6 billion yuan ($41.7 billion) in fixed assets, receiving donations of over 65.3 billion yuan.

China has made an ambitious goal to lift the country’s remaining 40 million impoverished people out of their situation by 2020, a step against poverty unprecedented in human history.