BEIJING, Oct. 13 (Xinhua) -- National lawmaker Zhu Guoping, a community worker in Shanghai, is dubbed the "neighborhood premier" by the locals. With her office on the doorstep, Zhu is at the service of all those in need, helping solve matters ranging from parking space, elderly care to legislation.

Zhu not only made her cell phone number public to the residents but also pays door-to-door visits to listen to their views and help them with their difficulties.

"Lawmakers should keep zero distance from the people," the veteran community worker said in an interview recently.

Zhu and four other deputies to the National People's Congress (NPC) working at the grassroots level shared their experiences in the interview, offering a glimpse into how the country's more than 2.6 million lawmakers at various levels fulfill their duties.

As a lawmaker, Zhu has paid much attention to getting local residents involved in legislation. At her office, citizens can take part to discuss draft laws and have their opinions heard by legislators.

Zhu said that her community has participated in the revision of dozens of laws, including laws on domestic violence and minor protection, with many of their opinions put forward.

Like Zhu, Chinese lawmakers are deeply rooted in the people. Among them is Shi Guangyin, 69, an everyday hero who has spent decades combating desertification in a barren desert.

"I will keep fighting desertification until I die," Shi said.

Hailing from Yulin, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, located on the edges of the Maowusu Desert, Shi vowed to rein in ferocious sandstorms that plagued his homeland when he was a child.

In the early 1980s, Shi took the lead in planting trees in the desert as a protection against sandstorms. Despite initial setbacks, Shi never gave up because he knew that "only when the desertification is controlled can the locals have a better life."

Thanks to decades of efforts, Yulin is now the country's first "forest city" among the arid and semi-arid sandy areas, with its forest coverage increasing from 0.9 percent to 34.8 percent.

Elected by the people, Chinese lawmakers are guardians of the interests of the people. NPC deputy Luo Yinghe, once a migrant worker and currently Party chief of a relocation community in Guizhou, has devoted himself to poverty relief and helped his fellow villagers embrace a new life.

The Xinmin residential community in Huishui County, Guizhou, was established in 2016, as part of the country's drive to relocate impoverished people from remote barren and disaster-prone areas to more habitable places.

Home to approximately 6,000 relocated poor residents from more than 170 villages, the new community has ensured that at least one member in every family has a job and the average disposable income of its residents has tripled from the level before the relocation.

The promising results wouldn't have been possible without Luo's efforts. By actively engaging local authorities, enterprises and the community, he helped facilitate the opening of evening training schools for the relocated and secure jobs for them.

"Serving as a deputy means great responsibility," said Luo, adding that he will do his best to serve the people. Enditem

Related

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)