Legislators push stronger protections for disabled

A number of national legislators are calling for stronger support for people with disabilities through further legal amendments, so they can more easily access assistance when facing difficulties in both urban and rural areas.

The legislators made the suggestion while reviewing draft revisions to the Organic Law of Villagers' Committees and the Organic Law of Urban Residents' Committees over the past weekend.

According to the current draft amendments, villagers' committees and urban residents' committees will be required to establish divisions to better serve the elderly, women and children.

Zheng Weiping, a member of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature, praised the proposal but called for greater attention to the needs of people with disabilities.

He emphasized the importance of addressing the challenges faced by people with disabilities and suggested that the services provided to them by village and community committees should be clearly defined in the laws.

Wang Tiemin, another member of the NPC Standing Committee, echoed the call, saying, "Including provisions for people with disabilities will help them integrate better into society and lead improved lives and work experiences."

Hong Tianyun, a member of the NPC's Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, noted that elderly people, women and children have long been the focus of village and community committees. He agreed with the proposal to establish specialized divisions to strengthen their care.

However, considering that many people with disabilities in rural areas are elderly, he stressed the need to highlight the protection of this group through legislation, adding that doing so would be beneficial for their future.