Rural vitalization program flying high with Air China

Sustainable measures

"To ensure the assistance is sustainable, we do not give money or livestock directly to the villagers. For example, if an idle person were given some cows and sheep, they might choose to sell or eat them, which is not a sustainable way to help the villagers have a better life in the long term," Guo said.

"The villagers can decide how to spend the money and the priorities to boost the village's development. For instance, some villages use the cash to improve the infrastructure and build roads. Wind and solar resources are natural gifts for local people, and as China is developing the new energy sector, we can better use these resources," he said, adding that animal husbandry, the main local industry, is risky due to the elements and bad weather.

"It's a business that's mainly dependent on the climate, but photovoltaic power can generate profits all the time. It is the future."

Duan, the villager, said, "I'm grateful to the preferential policy for offering me a better life."

His village, Dukhum in Saikhantal township, has 12 charitable posts, including street cleaners and garbage truck drivers. Each worker receives a stipend of 600 to 1,000 yuan every month, said the village head, Amgalan, who, like many people from the Mongolian ethnic group, only uses one name.

"Our village began receiving the money earned by the photovoltaic power station in 2019. The income is mainly used to pay stipends for the charitable posts, set up funds to assist villagers who are in difficulties and prevent them from slipping back into poverty, developing the collective economy of the village, offering subsidies to help residents who have serious illnesses and improving the environment," Amgalan said.

Last year, the village allocated a total of 12,000 yuan to four sick villagers. This year, a severe drought has affected the herders' livelihoods, so 38,000 yuan has been allocated to 19 households that have been badly affected.

"The money from the power station is not only improving the village's collective economy, but is also playing an important role in raising herders' incomes, preventing villagers from slipping back into poverty, ensuring people's livelihoods and improving their living environment," Amgalan said.

The photovoltaic power station program is just one of many rural vitalization projects in the banner that are sponsored by China National Aviation.