China reports better social welfare efforts for senior citizens, disabled people

From People's Daily Online in China:

On June 10, the Ministry of Civil Affairs issued a statistical report on the development of civil affairs in 2009. The report pointed out that the Ministry of Civil Affairs had effectively carried out CPC's policy of "sustaining economic growth, ensuring people's well-being and maintaining stability," made remarkable progress in the work of civil affairs and laid a foundation for further development of civil affairs.

The report showed that the senior care service, which combined capital and service guarantees, had made great progress. Some counties and cities established a policy of fiscal subsidies for seniors. The structure of senior care services is based on families, relies on communities and is supported by institutions. The lowest fosterage standard for orphans had been established, and the "tomorrow plan," "reincarnation program" and the rehabilitation program for cerebral palsy had all achieved great success.

At the end of 2009, there were more than 40,000 social welfare institutions across the country, 573 more than that of the previous year. About 2.3 million people were adopted by these institutions, 6.4 percent more than the previous year.

The senior care industry developed rapidly. At the end of 2009, there were 38,000 senior care institutions across the country, 908 more than that of the previous year. There were altogether 2.7 million beds, a 9.1 percent increase over the previous year. About 2.1 million people were serviced by these institutions, an increase of 7.7 percent from the previous year.

The child welfare industry had also made great progress. The lowest fosterage standard for orphans had been established, and the welfare policy for children affected by AIDS was elaborated. The policy aimed to benefit more children, and a service system exclusively established for orphans had been initially established.

In 2009, 115,000 children were adopted by various institutions across the country, with an increase of 28 percent from the previous year. The adoption channels were broadened, and the adoption policy was enhanced to improve the tracking work. In 2009, there were more than 44,000 registered adoptions, and of that number, 39,800 were adopted by Chinese citizens and 4,500 were adopted by foreigners. There were altogether 44,400 adopted, including 2,600 disabled children and 32,200 females.

As of the end of 2009, there were 116 orphan protection centers in China, with 4,000 beds. Around 145,000 orphans were helped by these centers in 2009.

The construction of mental retardation and mental disease service institutions has been enhanced. Until the end of 2009, there were 266 mental retardation and mental disease service institutions managed by departments of civil affairs of all levels, 22 more than that of the previous year.