From the Readers

'Ants' deserve better treatment

(China Daily)
Updated: 2010-06-21 07:51

Comment on "'Ants' feel the bite of being forced out" (China Daily, June 2)

"Ant Tribe", a term given to thousands of young people who live in China's inner-city slums, was first used in April last year and spread widely and quickly. The public began to realize there are a large number of people who still live in slums even in big cities such as Beijing.

I think the "Ant Tribe" is a group of young energetic people who believe in hard work and is determined to succeed. But the "Ants" don't have enough money to rent houses in big cities. With rapid modernization of cities, their slums will eventually give way to skyscrapers. They will not only lose their "shelter", but also have to pay more money for the new houses they rent, making it even more difficult for them to live in big cities.

Considering the harsh situation the "Ant Tribe" faces and the great contribution it has made to pump life into China's cities, the authorities should take proper measures and make more efforts to help them. Many local governments are building (or have already built) quite a number of affordable houses for the middle- and low-income groups. Why can't they allot some of them to the "Ants" after granting them some housing subsidy?

Youths should stick to their dreams and work hard to realize them. That is what drives social progress. And it's every government's responsibility to help them realize their dreams.

Shang Yuanyuan, via E-mail

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(China Daily 06/21/2010 page9)