Beijing government will spend around 100 million yuan on the purchase of social service projects, aiming to meet various needs of the public and boost the development of social organizations.

Officials announced at the first social organization resources distribution conference in Beijing on Monday that as many as 300 social service projects regarding public interest will be purchased by the municipal government and district governments this year.

Each project will get financial support ranging from 30,000 yuan to 300,000 yuan. It is expected that around millions of people will benefit from them.

The financial boost has attracted 2,706 social service projects from 1,846 social organizations so far. Projects focusing on poverty alleviation, healthcare, education and other subjects regarding people's daily life, are the main targets of the government.

Wu Shimin, director of the Beijing Civil Affairs Bureau, said the choosing of the projects would depend on the needs of the public.

"It's like the citizens order; we pay for them and social organizations provide the service," he said.

Around 80 percent of the 300 projects will be bought to better people's daily lives. Another 10 percent will be bought from key social organizations such as the Women's Federation and the Labor Union. The remaining 10 percent will be bought as supportive projects, designed to evaluate and supervise the projects purchased by the government.

Ma Zhongliang, vice president of Beijing Policy-Decision Institute, welcomed the government policy, believing it would bring about a win-win situation for the government and social organizations.

"It is difficult for the government to understand changing public demands. With the help of social organizations, it will be able to locate more help to improve lives," Ma told METRO.

He pointed out that many social organizations are short of money.

"The government purchase projects might help them overcome financial difficulties so that they can develop," he said.

There are 6,953 registered social organizations in Beijing. According to Ma, one-third are struggling financially - in particular, the non-profit organizations.

Beijing Zhicheng Migrant Worker Legal Aid Center is one such example. The center has offered legal help to migrant workers since 2005 but has received nothing from the 5,000 migrant workers who have received its help.

"Since we offer legal help, according to regulations, we cannot charge. As a result, all of our income is from the government and foundations," said Shi Fumao, the center's director. With the help of the government purchase program, Shi's center has received 150,000 yuan - around one-tenth of its annual budget.

"The policy will help. With more money, we can hire more lawyers and help more migrant workers," he said.

Shi's center is among around 400 social organizations that attended yesterday's resource distribution conference. The conference, which is the first of its kind and held at the Beijing conference center, offered an opportunity for social organizations to meet their potential supporters.

Zhou Naxin, general director of Beijing Legal Aid Foundation, said more exhibitions like the resources distribution conference should be held.

"We are required to spend 70 percent of any money we raise in the year. Sometimes, this is very difficult since we cannot find enough qualified projects," she said, adding that it is also easier to raise money when there are more projects to showcase.