The Ministry of Civil Affairs said yesterday more welfare
institutions for orphans will be built in the next five years.
Dou Yupei, vice-minister of civil affairs, said the ministry
would allocate 200 million yuan (US$25 million) annually between
now and 2010 to build welfare institutions in each prefecture-level
city across the country.
The institutions will have multiple functions, such as better
care, education and rehabilitation, Dou said at a donation ceremony
yesterday.
The plan, called the "Blue Sky Plan," means orphans will live
under the same blue sky as normal children. This was advocated by
President Hu Jintao during a visit to a children's welfare
institution on June 1.
China now has 66,000 orphans living in public welfare
institutions and more than 570,000 living with families, according
to the ministry.
Half the orphans living in welfare institutions suffer from
physical disabilities or congenital diseases.
Dou said another children's welfare plan, the "Tomorrow Plan,"
has achieved fruitful results since it was launched in May
2004.
The Tomorrow Plan, which provides rehabilitation to all
handicapped orphans, has brought new life to more than 25,000
children, 10 per cent of whom have now been adopted by
families.
Orphans suffering from congenital diseases or physical
disabilities receive free treatment or operations.
Dou said the new plan, implemented by the China Centre of
Adoption Affairs under the ministry, is expected to be completed by
May next year and would be extended to children of poor
families.
"China is still a developing country with limited government
funding for welfare," Dou said.
"We are very grateful for the donations and support from home
and other countries and hope more warm-hearted organizations and
individuals will join our cause in the welfare of children."
(China Daily December 29, 2006)