Beijing's Helping Hand
	A New Deal for China's rural poor

Posted Monday, March 6, 2006; 20:00 HKT
Last month, President Hu Jintao and China's cabinet formally unveiled an ambitious plan to build a "New Socialist Countryside." Here are some of the goals of this New Deal, intended to narrow the country's rural-urban income gap and stem social unrest:

• By 2007, all children in rural areas would receive nine years of free education. A similar initiative that ended in 2000 failed.

• A cooperative health-care system is slated to be rolled out nationwide by 2008. Each county government would design its own plan to subsidize farmers' medical bills.

• Agricultural taxes are to be abolished this year, and at least $1.86 billion dispersed in farm aid.

• Farmers would be taught their legal rights, and "a stronger legal system" built.

• Safe drinking water would be provided to all rural residents, and all towns would be connected by paved roads by 2010.

• The number of government employees at the township level would be cut, so money formerly spent on salaries could be used to provide basic services for farmers.

• More rural credit cooperatives would be set up so small businesses can get loans; further vocational training would be provided to farmers.

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