Inner Mongolian residents benefit from Ten Coverages project

By Wang Yifei (chinadaily.com.cn)

Updated: 2016-07-07

"Our income has almost doubled since 2014 from less than 10,000 yuan ($1495.84) to around 30,000 yuan each year," Zhang Yujin, a 56 year villager at Xilingol League, Inner Mongolia, said.

Zhang Yujin (left) talks about the changes which have taken place since 2014, when the Inner Mongolian regional government launched the "Ten Coverages projects." [Photo by Wang Yifei/ chinadaily.com.cn]

Zhang used to live in a shabby house made from dust. In 2014, he built a new house thanks to the "ten coverages" project and no longer endured leakages at rainny days.

In 2014, the Inner Mongolian government launched a project called "Ten Coverages", to enhance people's livelihood in the region. It focuses on the ten aspects closely related to people's daily lives: renovating dilapidated houses, provision of safe drinking water and electricity, accessing TV and broadcasting in each village, establishing and renovating local schools and standardizing cultural halls, medical rooms, chain stores and social security such as pension funds and medical insurance.

The project is intended to be complete by 2017, the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. By then, the ten aspects in rural and pastoral areas will have been substantially improved.

Zhang has two daughters: one is studying at a local high school and the other has graduated and is currently working at a travel agency at Xilinhot, a big city in central Inner Mongolia.

In regards to the future, Zhang is full of confidence. "I'm quite optimistic that our life can be even better with the ten coverages project underway," Zhang said.

In a corner of Zhang Yulong's house, a computer, a printer and books are set up. Zhang is fond of reading. [Photo by Wang Yifei/ chinadaily.com.cn]

Pictures of the Aegean Sea hang on the wall of Zhang Yulong's room. Zhang's eldest daughter works at a travel agency in urban Inner Mongolia. [Photo by Wang Yifei/ chinadaily.com.cn]