Lawmakers call for including non-governmental groups in social assistance

 Lawmakers call for including non-governmental groups in social assistance

BEIJING, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Lawmakers urged the government to encourage and support non-governmental organizations' efforts to offer social assistance at a panel discussion held Thursday.

The government should be more flexible in terms of including non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in social assistance programs and offering supportive policies, said Yan Yixin, a member of the Standing¹ Committee of National People's Congress (NPC), at a panel discussion of a report on social assistance delivered by Civil Affairs Minister Li Liguo on Wednesday at the committee's bi-monthly session.

Regulation- and policy-related barriers are preventing NGOs from engaging in charity work, Yan said.

Pan Xuehong, a NPC deputy from south China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous² region, said the government and NGOs can work together to help needy³ people.

"Cooperation can be realized through government purchases of services from NGOs," she said. "In some areas, NGOs can greatly supplement the government's work."

The lawmakers said the participation⁴ of NGOs will also help to increase investment in social assistance.

About 5.6 percent of Chinese are now covered by the country's minimum living standard program, which dispenses⁵ allowances to needy people, according to Wednesday's report.

The average size of the monthly allowance for urban residents hit 311 yuan (about 49 U.S. dollars) in June, with average monthly allowances of 159 yuan for rural residents, according to the report.

Several lawmakers called for drafting and adopting a law on social assistance as soon as possible, adding that the administration should allocate⁶ more social assistance funds and resources at the community level.

"Since coverage⁷ for social assistance programs is expanding, we need more officials and funds to carry out related work, such as interviewing needy families and checking their qualifications," said Wu Jinliang, a NPC deputy from north China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region.

Wednesday's report said more government spending on social assistance is urgently needed and more resources and personnel should be arranged at the community level.

Fang⁸ Xin, an NPC Standing Committee member, said the administration should reform the concept of social assistance by not only providing allowances for needy people, but also teaching them skills to improve their lives.

1 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

2 autonomous   

adj.自治的；独立的

参考例句：

• They proudly declared themselves part of a new autonomous province.他们自豪地宣布成为新自治省的一部分。
• This is a matter that comes within the jurisdiction of the autonomous region.这件事是属于自治区权限以内的事务。

3 needy   

adj.贫穷的，贫困的，生活艰苦的

参考例句：

• Although he was poor,he was quite generous to his needy friends.他虽穷，但对贫苦的朋友很慷慨。
• They awarded scholarships to needy students.他们给贫苦学生颁发奖学金。

4 participation   

n.参与，参加，分享

参考例句：

• Some of the magic tricks called for audience participation.有些魔术要求有观众的参与。
• The scheme aims to encourage increased participation in sporting activities.这个方案旨在鼓励大众更多地参与体育活动。

5 dispenses   

v.分配，分与；分配( dispense的第三人称单数 )；施与；配（药）

参考例句：

• The machine dispenses a range of drinks and snacks. 这台机器发售各种饮料和小吃。
• This machine dispenses coffee. 这台机器发售咖啡。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 allocate   

vt.分配，分派；把…拨给；把…划归

参考例句：

• You must allocate the money carefully.你们必须谨慎地分配钱。
• They will allocate fund for housing.他们将拨出经费建房。

7 coverage   

n.报导，保险范围，保险额，范围，覆盖

参考例句：

• There's little coverage of foreign news in the newspaper.报纸上几乎没有国外新闻报道。
• This is an insurance policy with extensive coverage.这是一项承保范围广泛的保险。

8 fang   

n.尖牙，犬牙

参考例句：

• Look how the bone sticks out of the flesh like a dog's fang.瞧瞧,这根骨头从肉里露出来，象一只犬牙似的。
• The green fairy's fang thrusting between his lips.绿妖精的尖牙从他的嘴唇里龇出来。