Cultural Projects Benefit the People of Tailai County

“The broad masses should play the leading role in the progress of Tailai’s cultural sector,” commented Li Yansong. To kindle the public’s interest in cultural activities and encourage their participation, the county has, with the backing of the local government, founded 25 cultural organizations with a membership topping 3,000. They include the calligraphers’ association, the dancers’ association, a community art troupe and a Yangge dance (a collective folk dance) team for senior citizens. These organizations draw on local events and native culture for their repertoire, and offer regular performances and exhibitions in neighborhoods, schools and factories in both rural and urban areas. Many have bifurcated into sub-associations. For instance, the literature associations now have five branches on poetry, painting and other subjects. One poetry branch alone consists of 158 clubs under it, thanks to the traditional penchant for the art in the region.

It is a long-held mission of the Chinese government at all levels to close the urban-rural divide, which is found not only in economic but also cultural development. In 2007 Tailai set the goal of cultivating “cultured farmers and a culturally advanced countryside.” It has since funded 200-odd musical instruments or other provisions for rural residents and supported the establishment of 60 or more farmers’ art groups who give free performances to fellow villagers in the slack season and at festivals.

The county government also sponsored a rural library scheme aimed to promote agricultural science and technology among rural residents. On the day this reporter visited one such library in Jieji Village, a score of farmers were in the reading room. One of them, who was poring over a booklet on how to grow high-yield vegetables, said, “It is good to do some reading here during the slack season as books enrich my knowledge and broaden my vision. It also helps me prepare for the farm work next spring.”

There are at present 83 village libraries across the county with a total collection exceeding 200,000 books and daily average visits above 2,000.The varied cultural activities in Tailai have injected vigor in both urban and rural communities, lifting local morale and improving people’s quality of life as well.

Improving Prospects

In recent years, Tailai County has launched a range of livelihood projects, allowing the average citizen to benefit from the development of the county – infrastructure, environment and life. Urban construction reflects improvement in people’s living standards and quality of life. Designated zones for recreation, business and residence, and the “two-district, one-town” project to transform the shantytowns, old buildings and adobe thatched cottages are examples of Tailai’s makeover. In the last couple of years, the county has renovated 783 houses in the shantytowns and3,715 thatched cottages and dilapidated houses, and constructed 110 low-rent apartments. This project allowed over 4,500 households to realize the dream of a safe and stable home.

For years, people had to grin and bear illness because of a lack of funds to pay for care. “We would ignore minor ailments, and suffer through major ones,” one resident commented. Now, the new rural cooperative medical care and urban residents’ basic medical care plans cover almost all people living in the county. Joining a health care scheme allays people’s worries of developing major illness. In 2013, 24,023 people participated in the urban workers basic medical care scheme, 34,578 people in the urban residents’ basic medical care scheme and 198,807 in the new rural cooperative medical care plan.

As well as sound healthcare provisions, education is regarded as key to developing the county and is central to Tailai decision-makers’ strategy. In recent years, the county has allocated special funds to renovate and build teaching institutions, and update teaching equipment. It also rallied donations from all social sectors for primary and junior high boarding school students living expenses. In 2013, the county also earmarked funds for nutritious meals for rural students in compulsory education.

Gainful employment is widespread. The local government strives to increase employment subsidies, small loans, training subsidies and welfare positions. It also launched a range of policies to promote job growth and help the unemployed or disadvantaged find jobs. The government has also stimulated the employment rate by providing training, loans and technological guidance for new entrepreneurs, as well as promoting labor service export.

In the last several years, Tailai has improved the living environment and livelihoods of its residents, and enriched their cultural life. Residential communities, road networks and well-functioning senior care homes, as well as schools, hospitals, activity centers and public squares, are the keys to a more colorful and happy life.

Cultural Projects for Senior Citizens