Plight of poor challenges China's dream for prosperity(2)

POLICY LOOPHOLES

The peasant's death, which came only two weeks after five street children died in a dumpster in southwest China's Guizhou province, has sparked widespread fury over public apathy and inadequate aid for the needy.

Nearly 40,000 people joined an online discussion regarding the tragedy on Sina Weibo, a Twitter-like microblogging site. Some blamed the man's fellow job-hunters, while many others lashed out at the local government for having turned a blind eye to the plight of the poor.

Such tragedies, they say, are far from China's goal of building a moderately prosperous society by 2020.

A prosperous society is not just one with a high GDP, but rather a society where every citizen can afford housing, education, medical care and retirement, said Professor Larry Lang, an outspoken Hong Kong-based economist.

The Beijing News said in a commentary published on Tuesday that the fundamental cause of the peasant's death was poverty, rather than disease or cold.

"Poverty forced him to leave home and search for work in the city, but the door leading to abundance never opened for him," it said. "It's humiliating for a civilized society to witness a hard-working man die from poverty and disease."

Not everyone is apathetic towards the needy. Bus drivers at a terminal near the overpass where the peasants sleep often buy meals for them.

After news of the peasant's death was published, many citizens flooded to the site with quilts, food and other supplies. The city government of Zhengzhou has established relief hotlines and citizens are encouraged to report anyone in need.

"We can't really blame the government for failing to act," said Dong. "The local government sent a van full of bedding and winter clothing last winter."

Dong said he knew he could ask for help when in trouble. "But there are so many government agencies and we don't know where to go. Besides, a healthy man should be capable of earning his own bread. It's shameful to beg."

Migrant job-hunters are often found roaming city streets, underpasses, railway stations, hospitals and other public facilities.

"All they need is a job and respect," said the Beijing News commentary. "The government and NGOs should be more tolerant, lend a helping hand and provide them with jobs or adequate training. This will be the right way to save lives."

China still lacks policies regarding aid for migrants, said Professor Zhang Mingsuo, a sociologist with Zhengzhou University.

"It's hard to care for this huge group, but by all means, the government is liable for safeguarding every citizen's safety and rights of subsistence," he said.

Zhang says new policies to address migrants' basic needs for food, lodging, medical care and education for their children should be established. "It's vital for local governments to provide temporary lodging for the homeless in order to avoid similar tragedies."