Nineteen central government departments are joining forces to
help homeless children, the Legal Daily reported
yesterday.
The government's focus is to prevent children from living on the
streets, and to help those who already are.
Children will be provided with the basic means of living as well
as guidance. The departments also plan to crack down on groups of
teenage criminals.
Increased funds will be used to improve standards at help
centers for street children, Dou Yupei, vice-minister of civil
affairs, said. New specifications will be set for equipment,
services, management and staff qualifications.
The 130 centers nationwide, many in urgent need of upgrades,
will employ full-time personnel, with training in psychology,
moral, cultural and legal education and professional skills
training.
In addition, local educational departments have been charged
with returning homeless children to their homes, at the same time
providing financial support and special educational care. The local
departments of labor and social security will offer free
introduction and training programs of employment to homeless
children above the age of 16.
Officials will be evaluated based on their ability to fulfill
the new requirements of helping to protect and manage street kids.
Incompetent officials will be punished.
In 2005, China had about 150,000 homeless children, according to
statistics from the Ministry of Civil Affairs, largely unchanged
from previous years.
(China Daily January 24, 2006)
