China Is About to Address Social Problems in Rural Areas

The Chinese government and Party organs will look into social problems that might trigger mass incidents in rural areas, a statement from the country's top discipline agency said on Feb. 28.

In a guideline for 2012 adopted at a recent meeting, the central government and Party departments decided to tighten supervision over village officials and impose tougher punishments on offenders, according to a statement from the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the Communist Party of China.

They will investigate village officials who violate laws and Party regulations in terms of land usage, housing demolition, the management of public properties and village committee elections, the statement said.

They will also carefully correct wrongdoings that harm the interests of rural residents, especially in the programs of education, medical insurance, food safety, environmental protection, workplace safety and poverty alleviation, it said.

The statement also urged improving the education of low-level officials and establishing an effective supervision system over the management of village public properties.

It suggested building more public bidding institutions for the development of public resources in villages.

Last November, disputes over land use, financing and elections in Wukan village in the southern province of Guangdong led to large-scale villager protests against local authorities. The village held a new election of village leaders this month.

Source: Xinhua