Deng Pufang, president of the China Disabled Persons' Federation,
yesterday promised the country's 60 million disabled people
a more affluent lifestyle, as well as better support, over the
next five years.
"We will help
another 12 million rural disabled people who are still destitute
to live a better life by the end of 2005. We want to see a
rise in the employment rate of disabled people to 85 per cent,''
he said.
"Meanwhile,
special recuperative projects will allow 5.1 million more
people to recover from illnesses,'' he added.
Deng made the remarks
at the opening session of China's National Work Conference
on the Disabled, which is scheduled to end on Monday in Beijing.
The conference
is held once every five years to review work in the field
over the previous five years and to lay out tasks for the
following five.
The paramount goal,
according to Deng, is "to create equal opportunities
for the disabled to participate in society.''
Central government
and the association pledge to enhance social awareness in
caring for the disabled, increase financial support and ensure
more disabled people are educated.
Relieving poverty
among disabled people, as well as providing basic social security,
should be given special priority.
One big project
to be launched soon will equip every municipality and county
with at least one home for the disabled to provide comprehensive
care, education, and job training.
Li Ruihuan, honorary
president of the association and chairman of the National
Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference,
praised the country's achievements in this field in the past
five years, saying there has been a considerable improvement
in disabled people's lives.
In the past five
years, 4.3 million disabled people have been given help to
recuperated and live in society, 44 percent more than the
original plan.
The number of disabled
children being educated has jumped from 62.5 percent in 1995
to 77 percent last year. Over 90 percent of disabled students
passed exams and have studied at university.
A 10 percent increase
was also achieved in the employment rate of the country's
disabled population. Of the 13.27 million rural disabled who
were helped back to work, 8.29 million can now feed themselves.
Even more to be
proud of is the artistic and sports activities achieved by
the disabled. The country's disabled artists have won wide
recognition abroad and disabled Chinese athletes have won
a total of 386 gold medals at international contests.
(China Daily 04/14/2001)
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