Coming down from the hills ... and out of a life of dire poverty
Print Edition
STANDING proudly in front of a two-story building that is set to become his new home, Li Nailing beams with satisfaction.
“I never even dared to dream that one day I would move away from these big mountains,” said Li, who has long been living deep in the mountains of Du’an Yao Autonomous County, southern Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.
Setting out from the small tile-roof 1980s house that he used to live in, Li had to spend an hour climbing over mountains to reach the local township. The arduous journey meant he could only get into town to buy necessities once a month.
The county has been plagued by desertification. Like many local villagers, Li and his wife grow corn among the stony mountains to sustain a meager living.
In his spare time, he can often be seen squatting by the gate of his home, smoking cigarettes while worrying about his son’s marriage.
“He is already 31! Sure, he has had girlfriends before, but they were all frightened away as soon as they visited our home,” Li said.
The construction of the new house is part of China’s effort to reduce poverty, and has brought hope to Li’s family. His new house is in a suburban area just a few kilometers away from his old home. It is inside a new residential square where a total of 400 buildings are being built for remote mountain villagers.
After moving to his new home, Li believes he will live a richer life and plans to find a job in the area.
“Most importantly, I will urge my son to find a wife as soon as possible,” he said.
At the end of last year, China vowed to spend 600 billion yuan (US$90 billion) over the next five years to relocate about 10 million impoverished people.
The campaign has been bringing about dramatic changes to rural areas. In Liulin Village, Tongjiang County, in Sichuan Province, dozens of buildings are under construction.
“We are so grateful that we can move to new homes, and almost all the cost of construction is covered by government subsidies,” villager Li Guozhi said, adding his family were entitled to a 25,000-yuan subsidy per person.
Located in the mountains, two thirds of the village cannot get a phone signal and the poverty rate is 33.7 percent.
Relocation is no easy job for the local government — officials have to consider how to help relocated people find jobs to eventually shake-off poverty.
“We have to create over 10,000 jobs to meet the needs of relocated people, and that is the biggest challenge we are facing,” said county Party chief Wei Zhengye.
In the mountainous Fenghuang village, Tongjiang County, Sichuan, Xiang Bilian, 60, recently moved from a dilapidated house on a mountain slope to a new two-story building.
With a 5,000 yuan interest-free loan from the local government, she bought 30 goats.
“I can sell six goats every year, each can be sold at 600 yuan, so I can make 3,600 yuan annually,” she said.
“Besides, I have two pigs and am growing some potatoes and herbs. Hopefully, I can get out of poverty by next year,” she added.
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