China needs to establish a long-term mechanism to address the relative poverty of people with disabilities, said Zhang Haidi, chairwoman of the China Disabled Persons’ Federation at the 12th session of the Standing Committee of the13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) held June 24.
Zhang pointed out that the living condition for impoverished people with disabilities has been greatly improved, and some have escaped poverty. But there is still a lot to be done in order to solve the problem of relative poverty of this population.
People with disabilities face more challenges in becoming more prosperous because of their limited working abilities. Zhang put forward five suggestions on setting up a long-term mechanism to help people with disabilities in urban and rural areas increase their incomes.
First, an accurate monitoring mechanism for relatively poor people with disabilities should be set up, using big data to master their situation and accurately track their production and living conditions so as to implement relief policies in a timely manner.
Second, it’s necessary to further improve the assistance system for the families of relatively poor disabled people, reduce their burden and increase support for them in basic education and social security as well as medical care and housing.
Third, the market mechanism must play a fundamental role in solving the relative poverty problem. It is necessary to strengthen vocational training and employment services for relatively poor disabled people innovate employment formsand establish long-term mechanisms to help increase their income and provide them with industrial support.
Fourth, we should help the families of relatively poor people with disabilities to nurture and enhance their self-dependence awareness and ability to escape poverty.
Fifth, it’s important to strengthen grassroots services for these families, improving basic public servicesfor them and providing them with caretaking and rehabilitation services as well as barrier-free home transformation.
