Amendment to family planning law on the cards

Shanghai is awaiting the central government's approval for its plan to amend the population and family planning law.

The city conducted a family planning study that includes observations on population data measurement, policy research, risk evaluation and solution.

Deputies to the Shanghai People's Congress were briefed about the developments at this year's annual session. About 12 deputies sought amendment to the current Shanghai Population and Family Planning Law, the Shanghai Evening Post reported yesterday.

Shanghai has raised the financial subsidy this year for families who have lost their only child or whose children have been disabled because of an accident.

The city government also said it was offering favorable support for child adoption, social welfare and to the poverty-hit families. They will be given preferential elderly care, easy access to doctors, and guidance if they plan to have a baby again in the future.

There are at least 7,000 families in Shanghai who have lost their only child and 1,600 others whose kids are battling disabilities due to accidents.

The proposal highlighted Shanghai's concern about the rising number of the elderly.

On an average, currently there are three working people looking after one elderly person.

From this year also, 80 percent of the people who turn 60 will be parents who have only one child. The burden of caring for them puts enormous stress on the child.

According to the Shanghai Civil Affairs Bureau, there were 3.67 million registered elderly people by 2012 — one fourth of the total registered population. By 2015, the figure is expected to rise to 4.35 million, covering 30 percent of the population.

At the same time, couples who lose their only child, or the elderly who struggle to cope with health issues and disabilities, are becoming a severe social problem.

The rising number of elderly couples with only child, and the social care for looking after needy families, are the reasons why the government is pushing for an amendment to the city's family planning law, said Jin Zhemin, one of the 12 deputies to at the congress.

Currently, there are exceptions made for couples who want a second child — both the parents should come from families with a single child, or whose first child was born with disabilities.