The government should establish a scheme for subsidizing the
needy under special situations beyond the pork price rise, says an
editorial in Beijing News. An excerpt follows:
Several departments of the central government are making joint
efforts to cushion the shock caused by rocketing pork prices around
the country.
Special subsidies will be granted to those with low incomes in
cities and college students from needy families before the end of
June.
The central government has decided to offer financial aid to pig
farmers in central and western China to make raising pigs
profitable.
These subsidies would obviously shelter low-income families from
price hikes in life's necessities.
However, such subsidies are only temporary measures tailored to
special groups. Migrant workers, for example, are not covered by
the upcoming subsidy although they are subject to the impact of
inflation.
The pork price hike is caused by the price increases in grains
and animal feed. When the central government gives money to pig
farmers, how about subsidies to those raising other animals
including poultry?
Starting with the pork subsidy, the government should try to
establish a long-term framework for public subsidies covering both
rural and urban citizens.
A lot of work is needed to estimate the number of subsidy
receivers, disclose the information to the public when necessary,
draft an emergency plan and distribute the subsidies as quickly as
possible.
With the help of academia, the government should calculate the
needs of different groups under different situations in advance, so
that proper measures can be taken when needed to reduce financial
shocks to those in need.
Besides the pork price hike, many other conditions could
threaten those with low incomes, including price rises in gas and
water as well as heating costs in winter. People would feel well
taken care of if the government has a subsidy plan in place.
(China Daily June 21, 2007)