Chinese non-governmental organizations (NGOs) Tuesday proclaimed
that they would like to act as the "vanguard" in exploring new
patterns to relieve poverty in China.
The NGOs Tuesday issued a declaration against poverty at the end of
the two-day International
Conference on NGO Poverty Reduction Policy.
The declaration says that the government, the market and NGOs have
to work together in the "long and arduous war" against poverty and
they would like to provide supplements to the government's
efforts.
The declaration and the conference will have a significant and
long-term effect on the poverty relief cause in China as what NGOs
have done and are able to do for the poor was openly discussed in
China for the first time, said Gao Hongbin, deputy director of the
State Council
Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development, at
a press conference after the conference ended.
The declaration says that domestic NGOs will work together with
overseas counterparts to help the impoverished, listen to their
calls and improve their participation in projects and community
affairs.
And problems facing women, children and ethnic minorities will
receive special attention from NGOs, the declaration says.
Michael Busgen, a consultant with the German-based Misereor
Foundation said "China has several real grassroots NGOs that play a
positive role in the country's social affairs, especially in
helping the poor."
"NGOs need to improve themselves to earn the trust of society,
though the whole environment in China is not so perfect now," he
added.
The declaration suggests that a competitive public welfare
resources market be fully developed and the government loosen the
control on NGOs' participation in poverty-relief programs.
A
senior government official for poverty relief efforts, Gao Hongbin
said China has set the basic principles for NGOs to participate in
the government's programs against poverty, but practical policies
have yet to be made.
(People’s
Daily October 31, 2001)