POVERTY ALLEVIATION
Lisu villagers confident about a better life
Li Hengqiang
Li Xueqiang and his wife were picking apples in the courtyard when we visited their home. They are of Lisu nationality and live in Juxiang Village, Weixi Lisu Autonomous County, in the Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan.
We used to live a poor life, but we will surely shake off poverty this year. My wife and I are planning for a make-up wedding as the starting point of a happy life, Li said, with a broad smile on his face.
Li used to work on construction sites for 20-30 RMB (US$ 2.86) a day. In the past two years, thanks to the poverty alleviation policy, the village helped him and his wife find new jobs. Now his wife grows some crops and medicinal herbs at home, while also working as a cleaner. Li works as a ranger and does some part-time jobs in his spare time. Li has also learned welding and house decoration. Now he earns about 4,000 RMB (US$571) a month.Better still, his children can enjoy 14 years of free education in Diqing.
The concrete roads, streetlights and solar heaters have improved our life, Li said. He has bought a motorcycle, colour TV and some cabinets. He and his wife want to throw a make-up wedding party, to thank those who have helped them and to celebrate their shaking off of poverty. We will live an even better life in the future, Li said.
Statistics show that from 2013 to 2018, the number of poor people in Chinas rural areas has decreased from almost 100 million to 16.6 million. This means that 12 million people have been lifted out of poverty every year, and 436 of the 832 poverty-stricken counties have shaken off poverty. This year, China will reduce poor population by 10 million.
