Villagers get grassroots help

By Palden Nyima and Da Qiong in Lhasa (China Daily) Updated: 2015-02-03 08:29

A poultry farmer feeds his chickens in Dazi county in Lhasa, the Tibet autonomous region, in January. Officials from the Lhasa science and technology bureau are stationed in the county to train farmers. Xue Wenxian / Xinhua

Completed projects connect rural areas with roads, electricity and tap water

More than 20,000 government officials have been sent to villages in the Tibet autonomous region to help rural residents since 2011, a report by the local Party committee said on Sunday.

At the same time, almost 6,000 local officials joined administrative committees in 1,787 monasteries and temples, helping most of them get paved roads, electricity and tap water.

"The officials have been very helpful as they taught us how to use computers and mobile phones, and even how to input Tibetan language into computers," said Sarzuk, a monk at Khorchak Monastery in Ali prefecture.

Sarzuk said that officials on the administrative committee assisted in getting financial aid to help repair murals in the 1,000-year-old temple, as well as build eight dormitories and a dining hall for the monks.

Yesang, director of the women's federation in Sada village, about 120 km from Lhasa, said that since the officials were sent to her village in 2011, it has benefited from conveniences such as tap water, roads and housing facilities.

"One of the key roles the grassroots-based government officials play in our village is to speak to the higher governments on our behalf," said Yesang.

Paljor, a villager from Sada, said, "Thanks to the village-based officials and the government, most of the households in our village are now linked with village roads.".

Norbu, a government official in Tibet's Renpung county, said, "I'm quite pleased with what we have been able to do for the rural residents, and it is our mission to be here."

"Benefiting the villagers is my main goal, and I hope to contribute more to the villagers in the future," said the 42-year-old.

Since the launch of the grassroots project, more than 43,000 projects have been implemented.

Per capita income of rural residents in the region increased from 5,022 yuan ($820) in 2011 to 7,471 yuan in 2014, and 130,000 rural residents were lifted out of poverty last year, according to the region's work report.

Contact the writers at palden_nyima@chinadaily.com.cn