The number of rural Chinese women living in abject poverty was
reduced to 12 million by the end of 2005, a major improvement from
the estimated 35 million in 1994, according to a senior official
with the State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation
and Development.
The group's deputy director Wang Guoliang made the remarks at a
forum in Beijing on gender, poverty alleviation and the building of
new socialist countryside.
Wang said women's federations at all levels have provided small
loans to help poor women through practical training, enabling them
to be financially independent.
As a result, rural women are enjoying more education and
employment opportunities and engaging in more social activities, he
said.
Wang said that China still needs to do much more to protect
women's legitimate interests and rights, including ensuring equal
access to education and engaging their equal participation in
policy making.
The group's director Liu Jian said earlier this month that China
had 23.65 million people living in poverty with per capita annual
incomes below 683 yuan (US$85.4), a mere 20 percent of the average
annual income of the country's rural population.
(Xinhua News Agency April 12, 2006)